Iasi- The historical and cultural city

Description:

Reserves and natural monuments

David Valley, floriculture reserve (5 to 6 km from Iasi), where one can find many rare plants of our country.

Dealul Repedea,  palaeontological reserve, (near Iasi).

Uricani forest, forest reserve (8 km from Iasi, near the village Uricani), a beautiful forest of oak  which represents a frequent  attraction for people travelling to Iasi.

Forest Dealu Mare, forest reservation, (near Deleni), an interesting secular beech forest.

Historical Vestiges

Vestiges of the Royal Court from Iasi (near the Palace of Culture), the oldest building of its kind in Moldova, which still exists from the time of Alexander the Good (1431).

The ruins of the Royal Court from Harlau (city Harlau, near Iasi) (XV century), built by Petru Musat and rebuilt by Stefan cel Mare.

The ruins of the Royal Court from Cotnari (Cotnari, near Iasi), served as temporary residence of the princes of the century. XV, among them Stefan cel Mare.

Vestiges of the Neolithic settlements from Cucuteni (sec. III - i. Hr.).

Palace of Culture (Piata Stefan cel Mare 1, Iasi), imposing structure built in the flamboyant Gothic style between 1906 to 1925, by architect plans I.D.Berindei. It was built on the old palace of the prince of Moldova. This great construction, houses in its 365-rooms, Gheorghe Asachi library and four museums: Museum of History of Moldova, Moldavian Ethnographic Museum, Museum of Art and Polytechnic Museum.

Prince Palace AI Cuza in Ruginoasa (10 km from Pascani and 62 km from Iasi), sumptuous palace, designed in Gothic style (1811), summer residence of the prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The palace, which today houses an interesting museum, occasioned to Negruzzi the following assessment: "The traveller ... awaken as if by magic in a house as if described by  Walter Scott, where he finds, besides increasing feudalism, Poland`s household and French elegance.

Other historical vestiges: Sturza Castle in Miclauseni(1752), Rosetti Palace -in Roznovanu Iasi (1831).

Religious Buildings

Church of the Three Hierarchs in Iasi (the Boulevard Stefan cel Mare), "one of the most interesting and curious religious buildings in Europe", as presented by the  French architect Lecomte de Nouy. Founded by Vasile Lupu between 1637 to 1642. It is characterized by richness and beauty of its decoration, its walls being genuine stone embroidery. Moldova's important cultural centre of sec. XVII, today houses the remains of Dimitrie Cantemir and of Al. I. Cuza (made from rust).

Golia Monastery in Iasi (Targu Cucu, Iasi), built between 1650 to 1660 by Vasile Lupu has a facade decorated in late Renaissance style, which gives a special note Moldovan XVII  century architecture. Golia Tower (30 m height) offers a wide view over the city and surroundings. At the entrance  a small museum is opened to the public "Creanga"(Ion Creanga - a great novelist was a deacon of the church).

Cetatuia Monastery in Iasi (district Nicolina Iasi), founded by Prince Gheorghe Duca (1669 to 1672), makes up an original and interesting architectural complex (fortified royal houses, cells, church, Gothic hall that houses a feudal art museum).

Galata Monastery in Iasi (Miroslava, Iasi), "mother of the Moldovan churches, built between 1579 to 1584 by Prince Petre Schiopu.

Metropolitan Cathedral in Iasi (Stefan the Great Boulevard no. 16), a monumental building built between 1840 to 1880 in baroque and neoclassical style. Inside, the existing painting was executed by George Tattarescu. It is the largest place of worship in the orthodox Romania.

Dobrovat Monastery from Dobrovat (Dobrovat, Iasi), built by Stephen the Great between 1503 to 1504, with painters during Petru Rares's time.

Other religious buildings: the Barnova Monastery from Barnova, founded between 1622 - 1629 by  Prince Miron Barnovschi, Aroneanu Church in Iasi, built in 1594 by Mr. Aron Tiranul, has outdoor decoration as one of the most beautiful in Iasi, Socola Church in Iasi, built in 1555 by Mr. Alexandru Lapusneanu, Church "Sfanta Sava",from Iasi, built with the help of Petre Schiopul and rebuilt in 1625, Frumoasa monastery from Iasi, built between 1726 to 1733 in a traditional style "Sfantu Gheorghe" church in Harlau (1492 ), Hlincea Monastery from Hlincea (1587), Bărboi Church from Iasi (XVI century), where he was buried the writer Alecu Russo.

Cultural Buildings

Al. I. Cuza University in Iasi (Copou, Iasi), founded in 1860 by Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The current building was built between 1893 - 1897 by the architect`s Louis Le Blanc plans. The interior is remarkable the Aula Monumentala and the "Sala pasilor pierduti", decorated with frescoes belonging to contemporary artists like Sabin Balasa. University Center from Iasi country has many scientists and people of culture (P. Poni, C. Stere, I. Cantacuzino Xenopol, G. Ibraileanu, M. Ralea, CI Parhon).

National Theatre "Vasile Alecsandri" in Iasi (Agatha Barsescu  street, Iasi), elegant building, among the most beautiful in Romania, built between 1894 to 1896 in baroque style. This name is connected to the  names of great personalities of our culture: M. Kogalniceanu, V. Alecsandri, Gheorghe Asachi, C. Negruzzi, Al. Russo, M. Sadoveanu.

Union Museum in Iasi (Lăpuşneanu Street 14, Iasi), hosted in a beautiful palace built in 1806 in the empire. In this palace  Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza lived between, 1859 and 1862. In the museum there are a lot of personal objects and various documents of the ruler on the unit of nation, language and territory of the Romanians.

Ethnographic Museum of Moldavia in Iasi (Palace of Culture, Iasi), shows the occupations, customs, national costume of Moldova, technical installations and exhibits peasant, fabrics, ceramics, carpets and Moldovan costumes.

Creanga's "Bojdeuca" from Iasi (Ticau, Iasi), Tica Hill, where he lived, in the latter part of his life, the immortal author of "Memories of Childhood". The House itself and the documents are testimonies of his life and generous friendship with Mihai Eminescu.

Memorial House "Vasile Alecsandri" on Mircesti (Mircesti, Iasi). In this house "Bardul from Mircesti, The Mircesti Bard" lived in 1867 and wrote a good part of his literary work, among them the famous "Pastels" (inspired by the beauty of these places).

Botanical Garden of Iasi (Copou, Iasi), is a large garden (one of the oldest in the country) structured in 12 sectors. Of these we mention: the rosary (interesting reserve with species of roses from around the world), the recreation and leisure sector (arranged in landscape style), the complex of greenhouses, the ornamental flower industry worldwide.

Others cultural buildings: the museum complex "Mihai Eminescu" from Iasi, in Copou Park, Museum House "Mihail Kogalniceanu", Iasi, Memorial House Mihail Sadoveanu " in Iasi, where the great Romanian writer (1880 - 1961)  lived and created , Memorial House George Toparceanu "of Iasi, Memorial House Otilia Casimir" of Iasi, Memorial House Mihai Codreanu" in Iasi, in Sonnet Villa, History Museum of Moldova in Iasi, which shows the evolution of material and spiritual culture of Moldova.