Articles (1006)

There is a street in Bucharest, but few know its story. How Badea Cârțan walked 46 Days on foot from Sibiu to Rome

Few Romanians today know who Badea Cârțan was, even though his name appears on a street in Bucharest and on a few commemorative monuments. In reality, Gheorghe Cârțan – his birth name – was one of the most remarkable Romanians of the 19th century. Born into a modest shepherd family in the village of Cârțișoara, in the Țara Făgărașului region, on a...

The story of the Sfânta Vineri church, the most beautiful church in Bucharest. Why Elena Ceaușescu demolished it

Among the churches that profoundly shaped Bucharest’s identity, the Sfânta Vineri-Herăscu Church held a special place. Built initially in the 16th century, founded by voivode Matei Basarab, it was considered for centuries one of the most beautiful and representative places of worship in the Capital.A jewel of Bucharest’s spiritualityLocated in the...

The oldest buildings in Bucharest. From the Old Princely Court to Manuc’s Inn and Casa Vernescu

Bucharest is a city where layers of history overlap visibly in its architecture. Among modern blocks and wide boulevards, there are buildings that have withstood the centuries and tell stories of the city’s beginnings, of times of glory and decline, of boyars, rulers, merchants, and intellectuals. Some have been restored and turned into museums, ot...

Prince Ion Ghica, the Romanian prime minister with blue blood. He stopped piracy in the Aegean Sea and brought down Cuza

In 2025, 128 years were marked since the passing of one of the most fascinating political and diplomatic figures in the history of modern Romania: Prince Ion Ghica. Statesman, revolutionary, writer, and career diplomat, Ghica was a multifaceted character, able to stand out both in difficult international contexts and on the domestic political scene...

The Domnița Bălașa Church, the Brâncoveanu Legacy. The Only Holy Place in Bucharest Where No Funerals Have Ever Been Held

In a crowded corner of Bucharest, surrounded by apartment blocks built during the communist period and the daily bustle of the city center, stands an architectural gem with nearly three centuries of history: the Domnița Bălașa Church. At first glance, it may seem like just an elegant place of worship, but in reality, it holds a complex story marked...

What the way we move through Bucharest says about us as a society

Traffic in Bucharest has long been a source of collective frustration. But beyond honking and endless queues, the way we choose to move through the city reveals much about how we function as a society: our relationship with time, with public space, and with one another.The private car as a social symbolThe city’s more than 1.4 million registered ca...

Cycling in Bucharest: routes and tips

Riding a bike in Bucharest can be an exercise in freedom—if you know where and how to go. The city has corners that breathe more air than one might expect, and a well-planned ride can make the difference between a stressful outing and a relaxing one.Routes worth exploringThe Mogosoaia Palace – Băneasa Forest route stretches for about 37 km round tr...

A Lovestory Like in the Movies: Tony Bulandra and Lucia Sturdza, “Fatal Love”, the First Romanian Film in History

In September 1911, at the Apollo Cinema in Bucharest, the Romanian public witnessed a historic moment: the screening of the very first Romanian film. The short silent movie, entitled “Fatal Love”, lasted only a few minutes but marked the beginning of an entire industry.First emotions on the big screenThe director was none other than Grigore “Grig”...

Victoria Palace, between past and present. The history of the seat of the Romanian Gouvernment

In the very heart of Bucharest, at the intersection of some of the capital’s most important boulevards, rises Victoria Palace – the headquarters of the Romanian Government. Originally designed with a different purpose by the renowned interwar architect Duiliu Marcu, the building gradually became a symbol of executive authority and an essential land...

The other Caragiale. The story of Costache, the great actor, the first director of the Grand Theatre on Calea Victoriei

On March 29, 1815, Bucharest witnessed the birth of a figure who would play a crucial role in shaping modern Romanian theater: Costache Caragiale. His life, which ended on February 13, 1877, is intertwined with the history of a performing art still in its infancy in the Romanian Principalities. Actor, playwright, director, and translator, Caragiale...