Iasi & Piatra Neamt City Breaks

 

Iasi - a city with many faces

 

Located in the northeastern part of Romania, Iasi was for many centuries the

crossing point of the most important commercial routes linking Poland, Hungary,

Russia and Constantinopole.

Iasi has been the main centre of Moldavian culture since 1408. It worth mentioning

that in 1565 Iasi was the capital of Moldavia and for a short period of time, from

1859 until 1862, the capital of Romania.

The city prides itself with publishing the first Romans paper and establishing the

first Romanian university. Today, Iasi is home to five universities.

Iasi is among the very few cities in the Orthodox world with more than 100 

churches, most of them located in the so-called Golden Plateau (Platoul de Aur). 

The Golden Plateau represents the nucleus of the city, around which the entire

settlement developed over the centuries. With the Palace of Culture at one end

and the  Union Square (Piata Unirii) at the other, the Golden Plateau features churches and princely palaces on both sides of Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Boulevard, which runs right through its centre. Many other important sites can be found on the streets nearby.

 

The Palace of Culture it's a really impresive building, built in flamboyant neogothic

style.  It was partly built on the ruins of the mediaeval Royal Court of Moldavia,

being inspired by the style of the Palace of Justice in Paris.  The 365-room palace

houses the Gheorghe Asachi Library and four of the city's museums: the Moldavian

History Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of Art and the Museum

of Science and Technology. The interior décor, with the lavish furnishings and

magnificent staircase of the entrance lobby, can be admired free of charge, but

tickets are required for entry to the museums.

• The Moldavian History Museum features about 35,000 objects spanning the

       centuries from 70,000 B.C. until 1946. These exhibits cover 19 rooms on the

       ground floor of the Palace of Culture. Some of the famous Cucuteni ceramics

       are on display here.The museum also houses the vaulted King's Room, a gallery

       of medallion-shaped portraits depicting Moldavian sovereigns from 81 A.D. to

       the Hohenzollern kings.

• The Moldavian Ethnographic Museum is one of the oldest and largest in the

       country. Encompassing 16 rooms, the displays cover every aspect of traditional

       Moldavian life, featuring agricultural and hunting tools, woodwork, traditional

       pottery, painted eggs and a good collection of textiles and dyed carpets

       embroidered with bird and plant motifs. One room exhibits winter customs

       items, including masks representing the bear, the goat and other characters of

       traditional New Year's festivities. The collection of wooden machinery is

       impressive with 19th century tree-size oil and wine presses.

• The Museum of Art houses an excellent collection of Romanian paintings from

       the 19th and 20th centuries vividly illustrating  Moldavian rural life and its

       landscape. Nicolae Grigorescu's Car cu Boi (Ox Cart), Theodor Amann's Hora de

       peste Olt (The Village Dance) and Octav Bancila's Batran Croitor (Old Jewish

       Tailor) are some of the collection's highlights.

       In the four rooms devoted to European art, there are paintings by Murillo,

       Philippe de Champaigne, Paolo Veronese and a Rubens, Cezar Receiving

       Pompey's Head. Additionally, you'll find works by foreign artists who lived and

       worked in Iasi such as Schiavonim Livaditii and Stavscki.

• The Museum of Science and Technology features a superb collection of

       musical instruments: unique Romanian music boxes, mechanical accordions

       and an automated orchestra with three violins and a piano as well as radio,

       television, recording and broadcasting buffs.

 

The Church of the Three Hierarchs (buildt 1637 - 1639) is a must-see in Iasi.. 
Nothing can prepare you for its stunning ornate decoration: the entire exterior of

the church is covered in delicate and intricate patterns sculpted into the stone and

spread over 30 friezes. This "stone embroidery" is a mixture of western gothic,

Renaissance and Oriental motifs.

Legend has it that the exterior was covered in gold, silver and lapis lazuli but

centuries ago, when the Ottoman Empire tried to conquer Moldavia, the invaders

sat the church on fire and melted all the gold.

The interior boasts the tombs of a number of famous Romanians, including the

founder of this church, Vasile Lupu, Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, and Prince Dimitrie

Cantemir. In 1994, the church reopened as a monastery. The three patron saints

(Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Crysostom) are celebrated here

on January 30.

Take a moment and stay on the bench near the church after you walked out of the church. It is such a peaceful atmosphere, you wouldn’t say that a few steps away is all the hustle from Stephen the Great Boulevard. Beside that you can see in the churchyard the building with the Gothic Hall, the old “Schola Basiliani” .

 

Also located on Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Boulevard,  the St. Paraschiva

Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Romania.

Built in Italian Renaissance style, its construction began in 1833 and ended in 1839,

but its cupolas fell and the church remained in ruins until 1880, when, with the help

of the Foundation of King Carol I, work started again, lasting until 1888.

The vast interior was painted in 1887 by Gheorghe Tattarescu and the stained glass

windows were completed by a Bavarian factory in Munich.

Every October 14, pilgrims from all corners of Romania and neighboring countries

flock to Iasi to kneel before the blue and gold bier containing the relics of Saint

Paraschiva, the patron saint of the cathedral.

 

Another church that worth a visit is Saint Nicholas Church, the oldest church in Iasi, 

founded by Stefan cel Mare in 1492. Situated near the princely court, the church was for

centuries the place where Moldavian rulers were anointed, therefore, gaining its "royal"

status.

Restored by Prince Antonie Roset in 1677, it was completely renovated by the French

architect Andre Lecomte du Nouy between 1885 and 1897h, dates from the reign of Stephen

the Great (Stefan cel Mare, 1457-1504). 

 

The cultural life of this historic city attracts tourists of all ages.

Built in 1815 by Alexandru Bals, Moldova Philharmonic House became the venue of choice

for theatre performances in Iasi.

On January 18, 1847, the famous composer Franz Lisz played here.

In 1868, Monsignor Salandarie founded the Catholic Institute here, enlarging the

building and adding a spacious extension, which today, houses the Moldavia

Philharmonic. The old building is home to the George Enescu Conservatoire.

 

The National Theatre is one of the most elegant buildings in Romania.

The architects were the Viennese Feller and Helmer who later built theatres in

Cernauti and Sofia. Richly decorated in French-eclectic style, the theatre has one of

the most splendid auditoriums in the country. It can seat 1,000 people and the

acoustics are excellent. The theatre bears the name of the company's founder,

Vasile Alecsandri (1821-1890), a renowned Romanian poet, playwright, politician

and diplomat.

Known as the first National Theatre from Romania, it shelters true monuments of

art: the Painted curtain by the Viennese master M. Lenz, the Iron curtain, painted

by Al. Goltz with ornamental motifs symmetrically arranged tightly separated from

the rest room scene and the painted ceiling by Al. Goltz. Numerous performances

known worldwide have been staged here.

Currently, the building houses the Romanian National Opera Iasi. So, if you like

opera, you can have an evening with harmonious rhythms.

 

For those who enjoy walking, Copou Park will be a great choice. Copou has been a

favorite place in Iasi for late afternoon strolls or morning walks since the second

half of the 17th century. In 1834, Copou became the city's first public garden and in

1860, street lamps were installed for the first time.

Allegedly, it was here, under his favorite linden tree, that the Romanian National

Poet, Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), wrote some of his best work. The tree stands to

this day and a bronze bust of the poet has been placed next to it.

 

Iasi's Botanical Garden is the oldest and largest in Romania-dates from 1856 and

covers about 250 acres. The garden houses a precious and rich collection of trees

and plants, offering as well numerous shady lanes to explore, rose and orchid

gardens, a collection of tropical plants, cacti, carnivorous plants, natural springs

and a lake.

 

Creanga’s Bojdeuca building.

Ion Creanga was a well known Romanian writer, raconteur and schoolteacher.

When he stayed at Bojdeuca he was best known for his cats (over 30 cats) and

each one of them wore a name associated with a real person in his life.

Bojdeuca is the first literary museum from Romania.

It is the perfect place for kids because over the year here are organized all kind of

workshops like storytelling, communication, handmade, attitude and drama,

nutrition and health.

 

 

For fun and relaxation, Hamak leisure

club  awaits you with different activities:

horseback riding, hiking and adventure

park with zip line, fishing, archery,

badminton, cycling, minigolf and more.

 

 

 

 

And if you want to soak up the atmosphere of the city, there is a hidden

place - Releu Platform. Releu refers to a large antenna but most of the people

from Iasi know that area as a place to offer gorgeous views of the city. 

 

Not far from Iasi (about 1-1.30 hours by car) it definitely worth visiting Cotnari

Vineyards, famous for their delicious sweet white wines made of grapes rich in sugar

and harvested in late autumn following the first frost. 

The quality of these wines relies on a combination of rich soil, the late harvest and

the presence of a special mold (Botritis cinerea). The winery's most popular wines

include Francusa (dry), Catalina (semisweet) and the sweet, golden Grasa and

Tamaioasa dessert wines. The most popular brand, "Grasa de Cotnari", is an

excellent white wine often referred to as the "golden nectar." Grasa de Cotnari was

awarded the gold medal at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris.

Apart from wine-tastings, visitors can tour Cotnari's other attractions, such as cellars

dating back to the time of Stephen the Great (1457-1504), where over 6 million liters

of wine are being aged in oaken barrels.

The winemaking plant produces 4 to 6 million  bottles a year and boasts a collection

of more than 800,000 bottles.

Cotnari winery offers wine-tasting sessions and tours of the cellars and factory.

 

Every year on September 14, wine connoisseurs celebrate the harvest here.

 

 

 

There are so many things to discover in Iasi and nearby....... just take your walking shoes and start exploring!

 

Piatra Neamt- the Pearl of Moldova

 

Surrounded by mountains, Piatra Neamt is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in Moldova - it is known as the Pearl of Moldova because of its beauty. Piatra Neamt is one of the oldest cities in Moldova with an age of 2000 years (former Dacian place). With its cozy streets and coffee shops, warm people and antique boutiques Piatra Neamt will make you feel at home.

Whatever the number of places you have been to and people you have met, if you stay for a while in the Neamţ area, you will see it was worth the effort. The area around Piatra Neamt  that is really fabulous!

To summarize the main things to see:

 

Princely Church and Court in Piatra Neamţ

Inherited from Prince Ştefan cel Mare, built between 1468 and 1475, it represents

a genuine effigy of nobility. The harmony of shapes and exterior decorations, the

inconspicuous monumentality, the complex fully illustrates the beauty of the

Moldavian architecture during Ştefan cel Mare’s rule. The 19 m-high belfry was

erected in 1499 and has become iconic for the town. From up there, visitors can

enjoy almost a bird’s-eye view of Piatra Neamţ and the Bistrita Valley.

 

Cucuteni Eneolithic Art Museum

This Museum is a unique national museum by the approached themes, history

and art. Currently, the museum shelters the most important Eneolithic collection of

the South-East Europe. It is exclusively dedicated to the art of Cucuteni, with its two

basic components – decorative and figurative art – currently being exhibited as the

most spectacular artefacts, which are real prestigious objects belonging to

Precucuteni – Cucuteni Cultural Complex. Photo-documentary materials and

three-dimensional objects belonging to all phases and stages of the evolution of this

civilization throughout the area are also exhibited.

Among the most representative historical monuments in Romania,  the fortress of

Neamt is an objective situated in the city of Tg. Neamt, in the subcarpathian zone of

Moldavia.

Issued from the local society`s necessities, the fortress of Neamt was built in the

period of consolidation of the Romanian medieval state on the east side of

Carpathians. Along the centuries, the history of the fortress has been tidily

combined with the history of the whole Moldavia, for the fortress marked some

important moments of this history, keeping on its walls the traces of the days of

glory or those of sorrow of the past times.

Piatra Neamt itself is a nice town, but without many attractions of its own. The small

historical center is something you can see in a couple of minutes. You can definitely

climb one of the hills which surround Piatra Neamt by cable car (there is also a small

skiing slope if you are here during winter or early spring) and a pretty nice Historical

Museum, but you really need a guide to enjoy it.

But what it is really fabulous is in the area around Piatra Neamt, in the county of

Neamt. What can you see ?

 

Ceahlau national park

If you climb the mountain Ceahlau, there a a lot of routes to follow, each with a

different legenda. One particlar stone, a big and impressive rock called Dochia Stone,

 has the biggest number of legends from the Ceahlau Mountain.A real pleasure to

hear locals telling, each time the story will be different...

It seems that the name of the rock comes from the St Martira Evdokia. There is a

legend that speaks about an old female shepherd that was  dressed with many 

sheepskins. She climb the mountain with her sheep and on the

way up, because of  the warm, she threw her thick clothes. 

All of a sudden a nig cold wind started to blow that transformed

the shepherd and her sheep into this rock formation.

In our calendar this legend signifies the end of winter and the

arrival of spring.

Another legend says that Dochia was the daughter of a Dac king.

The Roman Emperor Traian was in love with her and he tried to

steal her. The girl ran into the mountain where she stayed

hidden. There, she prayed to the St Mary Mother of Christ to help

her by turning her into a stone.

The Romanian writer Mihail Sadoveanu speaks about another

legend, where a very old witch called Dochia lived on the

mountain. One day she finds a small baby girl abandoned on the

mountain that she will raise as her own daughter.

Time passed  and the girl grew up.

Everything was fine until one spring when the girl heard the  songs coming from the

village. She left the mountain and never returned. Filled with grief Dochia searched

for her daughter and once she understood that she will never come back she died of

broken hart at the beginning of spring and the cold nights transformed her into stone.

 

Bicaz Gorges. Found at almost 50 km away, it is the natural gate between

Transylvania and Moldova, the gorges will certainly impress you. This is the most

popular destination in the area. Don’t even think that is the most accessible judging

from the location point of view. It is not. But it is that kind of destination that will

leave you breathless. 

You can see Bicazului Gorges as a road between Moldova and Transylvania, the two

Romanian provinces. They were formed by the Bicaz River and work as a connection

between two other important natural and anthropic monuments:   Red Lake and

Bicazului Barrage.The road that slices through the gorges is among Romania’s most

spectacular. This stunning gorge has a part that is so narrow that it is known as

"The Neck Of Hell."

Few kilometers away, in Transylvania, you will find Lacu Rosu (Red Lake) a lake

formed almost 200 years ago from a landslide which blocked a few springs…

An area was flooded, but this area had a lot of iron reserves… the trees from the

flooded area did not disintegrate in water, but they were naturally protected by iron

and survive to the day… like a forest of pales getting out of the lake…

Right, we are the country of Dracula, the Impaler !

 

Old wooden churches from Neamț County and not only....

On Route Bicaz – Red Lake, you can reach a wooden church at Goat Runlet

which is dedicated to “Saint Dumitru” . This is a beautiful yew tree church, built

on yew foot. It is the oldest Orthodox Christian church on Bicaz Valley, from

Bicaz Key until beyond Bicaz to Pângăraţi the only wooden church in our county

fully interior painted.

Monastic village in Văratec is one of the largest villages of its kind in the

country and that, not only for the age of the homes and hermitages, is part of

our national patrimony. The village consists of 180 houses with flowers in

courtyard and porches, breathing purity. Houses were grouped around churches

as they were raised (the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 1817, the

Church of the Transfiguration, 1847, the Church of the Assumption, 1882).  

In the village, says Reverend Mother Stavrofora Iosefina Giosanu are about 400

nuns who live their life in prayer and work. 

It is recognized as the largest convent in Romania. 

 

It is said that Neamt has the second highest density of monasteries in the world

after Athos Mountain… and some are really beautiful!

 

 

The entire Neamt area is a beatiful place to explore! You will not be dissapointed!!