Articles (1840)

How the job of STB inspector came about and what fines were imposed in the beginning

In 1872, Bucharest smelled of dust, tanned leather, and animal exertion. On the narrow streets, where mud seemed to be a permanent state of matter, the first horse-drawn trams made their way with a metallic noise that heralded the modern era. A gentleman in a top hat hurriedly climbed aboard, adjusted his coat, and searched his vest pocket for a sm...

Marina Știrbei and the story of the White Squadron. How the princess of Romanian aviation saved thousands of lives in the Second World War

Marina Știrbei, rightly nicknamed “the princess of Romanian aviation”, is one of the most impressive female figures in modern Romanian history. Born on March 19, 1912, in Vienna, into an aristocratic family with deep connections to the political and cultural history of the country, Marina Știrbei seemed destined for an elegant, discreet life of sal...

The story of actress Nadia Gray, the beautiful Bucharest-born woman who captivated Ionel Teodoreanu and experienced “La Dolce Vita” in Hollywood

The name Nadia Gray is not as familiar today to the Romanian public as that of other great cultural figures, yet her destiny remains one of the most spectacular and troubling stories of the 20th century. Born under the name Nadia Kujnir on November 23, 1923, into a mixed family with Jewish and Romanian roots, the future actress grew up in a privile...

The history of the Perla Restaurant in Bucharest, the venue where “Little Prince” Nicu Ceaușescu had fun away from curious eyes

At the intersection of Dorobanți Street and Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard, in an area that pulsed with urban life and social effervescence, the Perla Restaurant was, for decades, one of Bucharest’s best-known and most respected venues. Especially during the 1980s, Perla was not just a restaurant, but a true landmark of public dining, a place where refi...

The legacy of Alexandru Vaida-Voevod: from the “architect of the Union” to the first head of government of Greater Romania

Alexandru Vaida-Voevod was born on 27 February 1872 in Olpret, a locality known today as Bobâlna, into a family with old Romanian traditions from Transylvania. His father, Dionisie Vaida, came from a wealthy and influential lineage, being one of the few Transylvanian Romanians who enjoyed a solid material position and social respect within an empir...

Child-Friendly Cafés and Teahouses for Cold Winter Days in Bucharest

Winter radically changes how families use the city. Cold temperatures, snow, and short days limit outdoor activities, making the need for warm, predictable, and child-friendly indoor spaces a practical necessity rather than a luxury. In this context, a café or teahouse suitable for children is not defined solely by the presence of a play corner, bu...

Robin Hood, smitten by a princess from Bucharest. The tragic love story between Irene Ghica and actor Errol Flynn

In November 1949, the international society press was in an uproar. From Paris to New York, newspaper headlines spoke about a story that seemed taken straight out of a romantic film: a very young Romanian princess had managed to conquer the heart of one of the most desired men on the planet. Irene Ghica, only 19 years old, had become the partner of...

Architecs who shaped the city of Bucharest: Henrieta Delavrancea knew she would become one of the greatest Romanian architects from the age of just 6

Henrieta Delavrancea, also affectionately known as “Riri,” was born in 1894 into a family that breathed culture through every pore. The youngest daughter of the writer Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea, one of the most powerful personalities of Romanian intellectual life at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Henrieta grew...

From Bucharest to Paris, actress Alice Cocea caused a sensation among men. Three gentlemen met their end longing for Aristizza Romanescu’s student

Alice Cocea was the Romanian woman considered fatal, given that three men met their end out of jealousy. This diva was extremely controversial and, more often than not, appeared on the front pages of scandal newspapers in France. From a young age, Alice was drawn to the stage, taking lessons from Aristizza Romanescu, after which she left for France...

The story of Cornel Patrichi, the king of dance in Romanian communism. He scolded Nicu Ceaușescu when the “Little Prince” “cheated” him at card games

Cornel Patrichi is one of those figures in Romanian culture who crossed eras, regimes and mentalities, leaving behind a strong imprint both in the world of dance and in the collective memory. Choreographer, ballet dancer and social personality of communist Romania, Patrichi was considered by many the “king of dance” in a period when art was strictl...