Articles (1216)

How Bucharest became a city of festivals – the culture that took to the streets and changed the city

Bucharest, once perceived as a city of old architecture and heavy industry, has in recent years reinvented itself as a vibrant cultural space where festivals play a central role. Some initiatives were launched by the municipality, others are deeply rooted in tradition, and new formats have emerged in response to the public’s growing appetite for la...

What is the oldest street in Bucharest? On Smârdan Street in the Old Town, the Union of the Romanian Principalities was sealed

Romania’s capital hides a fascinating urban history that stretches across several centuries. The first documented mention of the city dates back to 1459, and since then Bucharest has undergone radical transformations: from a muddy medieval market town to today’s bustling metropolis.Bucharest and its early urban beginningsIn the midst of this evolut...

The National Theatre of Bucharest, from its beginnings to the present: a boyar legacy turned into the cultural heart of the Capital

In the middle of Bucharest, at Romania’s kilometer zero, stands today the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre, an emblematic institution for Romanian drama. But the story of this place begins long before the first play was staged here—back in the 18th century, when the land belonged to one of the most influential merchant families in the city: the Ha...

Kretzulescu Church, between past and present. Built by Safta Brâncoveanu, saved from ruin

In the center of Bucharest, just a few steps from Calea Victoriei and the Royal Palace, stands one of the most valuable monuments of religious architecture in the capital: the Kretzulescu Church. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, between 1720 and 1722, the church was founded by the great logothete Iordache Kretzulescu and his wife Safta,...

Who was Matei Balș, the blue-blooded doctor after whom Romania’s most famous infectious disease institute was named

In Romanian history, there are figures who managed to combine two seemingly incompatible worlds: aristocracy and science, tradition and modernity, a personal destiny marked by hardship and a brilliant career. Among these names is Professor Matei Balș, the doctor who became a symbol of the fight against infectious diseases and of excellence in resea...

The most honest politician in Romania’s history has his own boulevard. How Ion Mihalache refused to betray Iuliu Maniu

The story of Ion Mihalache is one of those histories that show how much a nation’s destiny can be shaped by a man with firm principles and unshakable moral integrity. Born in Topoloveni, Argeș, into a modest peasant family, Mihalache understood early on the hardships of rural life and the need for profound reform to bring the village out of backwar...

The great artist Aurelian Andreescu was discovered at “Pescăruș” while having fun with friends

Few Romanian artists have managed to leave such a strong mark on people’s hearts as Aurelian Andreescu, the singer with an unmistakable voice, often regarded as the best male voice Romania has ever had. Born in 1942, he did not benefit from classical musical training, did not attend specialized schools, and had no vocal coaches. Everything he built...

How the famous APACA factory in Bucharest was built in just 97 days

Few names from Bucharest’s industrial landscape have managed to remain so alive in collective memory as APACA. Its history traces back to the second half of the 19th century, when tailoring workshops for the Romanian army were first established. Origins of a tradition in the textile industryIn an era when the uniform was not only a practical necess...

The House of the Free Press, built on the site of the old Băneasa Hippodrome. This is where Scînteia, Flacăra, and România Liberă were born.

One of the most impressive and imposing constructions in Bucharest is the House of the Free Press, located in the northern part of the capital. Built during the communist era, this monumental building is one of the strongest architectural expressions of the socialist ideology implemented by the post–World War II regime. Alongside the Palace of Parl...

The first theatre of the great Constantin Tănase: Năsăilă’s Cărăbuș, the former temple of Romanian comedy

Constantin Tănase, considered the father of Romanian revue theatre, was born in 1880 in Vaslui, into a modest family. A curious, energetic child, he discovered early on the joy of mimicry and laughing through hard times.Constantin Tănase: childhood and the beginnings of an artistic destinyHis first theatrical attempts were as an amateur actor, taki...