A religious tour of Iasi

The city of Iasi, former Capital of Moldavia, starting from 1595, still keeps a certain pride, visible in the way and style of the inhabitants. Fact is, that Iasi gave to Romania so many culture treasures and so many prominent personalities, making it a real Romanian cultural capital.

The St Parascheva Metropolitan Cathedral is the biggest in Romania at the moment

There are many Culture Tours in Iasi, the possibilities are countless. But what I am going to suggest now matches with the city's hidden culture treasures. The Romanian are a deep religious people, and every important ruler build one or more churches, aiming to let something behind. A good tradition after all.

We start the tour in in the central Piata Unirii of Iasi. The best during  weekends, as the heavy circulation is closed and you can walk on your own. Otherwise, it could be too noisy, the trams are the angriest! You see here the renowned Hotel Traian, build by Gustave Eiffel, which is the city's biggest, oldest and best. A few steps further The Roznovan Palace, build at 1834, nowadays the city's mayoralty. Across the street the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral Sf. Parascheva, which is today the Romania's biggest cathedral. It hosts the remainings of the Saint Parascheva, the protector of Moldavia, which is very beloved here and in all Romania. The interior paintings by Gh. Tatarescu (1886) and the coloured glassworks remind the western churches. On 14th of October there is a huge pilgrimage here, with people coming from all over Romania, Moldova and other countries. It is the Calendar Day of Saint Parascheva, and the people come and pray for the most divers matters.

Grand hotel Traian from Iasi was build by Gustave Eiffel and is the city's oldest, biggest and best; also the starting point of our Iasi Spiritual Tour

The remainings of Saint Parascheva were bought and brought to Iasi by the ruler Vasile Lupu. He left them first in Biserica Trei Ierarhi, our next target!  First build by Vasile Lupu at 1639, was renovated by Lecomte de Nouy at the late XIXth century, as many fires and earthquakes destroyed its first image. You may still observe a mineral lace, similar to the Russian churches. When Vasile Lupu first build the church, it had a superb decoration of gold, silver and lapislazuli, which dissapeared meanwhile. But you can still observe the rich oriental motives ( from Turkey, Persia and Georgia) .

The Armenian Church from iasi is city's oldest

Not very far you will find the Central Market (Hala Centrala) where you can take a break, eating and drinking at full speed. You need only to take care at one single aspect: in Romania the public toilets are very disapointing!  Keep on walking, finding further the St Sava church, which is unique in Romania due to its domes, massive towers, and the general solid view. Only a few steps further, the Armenian church, actually the city's oldest. Remembering the rich cultural heritage of Iasi, and find the big Synagogue, the last one still to be used (100 years ago Iasi had 100 working synagogues).

St Sava church in Iasi

This tour is not very long, neither very difficult, but very intensiv. For special interests we can make it even in two days. So much better, there are still some churches to discover: galata, cetatuia, Golia etc. Next time, after wine tasting in Bucium.

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Things to do in Iasi

If you are young, you will love in Iasi the Bohemian atmosphere due to its many students. It is really delightful for every teenager dreaming to be a student in Iasi, counting also the very good fame of some high schools (The Medicine University is the biggest and most prestigious in Romania, also the Computer School from the technical University, which gave big numbers of employees in Google or Microsoft).

Almost to forget between so many other important museums: The Botanic garden is the oldest and the biggest in Romania and welcomes you

The city of Iasi proudly counts 240 000 inhabitants, with 80 000 students. The proportion is overwhelming, and during the vacations the city seems to be sad and deserted. It is a big difference comparing to Bucharest where the students are much more diluted inside the huge city, like a drop in an ocean.

When in 1859 Moldavia and Wallachia have been unified after centuries long fights, the newly formed Romania had for two years literally two Capitals, Iasi and Bucharest. But in 1862 the final decision has been made in favor of Bucharest, with the promise to reimburse Iasi with a huge amount of money (no penny at all has been payed). As a compensation, Iasi kept on developing its intensive culture life. There are theaters, universities, and museums in this picturesque city demanding your attention for three days at least.

The Church trei Ierarhi from Iasi build in Middle Age, with a special Architecture style  ( next to the byzantine style, there Turkish influences)

Visit in Iasi its wonderful Parks, Ciric and Copou and walk long there. Copou is old, nice and very interesting. The most important Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu used also the walk here, it has a statue in his corner, surrounded by the beloved  linden trees he depicted in some of this poems. You can find Mihai Eminescu in English, but if I tell you about Ion Creanga there are very little chances to have heard of him. Nevertheless, he is one of the greatest story tellers in the Romanian literature. He used to have a special language with many regional words, and nobody dares translating it in English or other foreign language, fearing the complete loss of the original richness and sweetness. His biography is also extraordinary, he was first a priest, but a rebel one, and has been cancelled after more  punishment.

The Lion Monument, from the Copou Park, not far from Eminescu's statue and Linden trees.

Wine tastings in Bucium, very near, are possible for the thirsty gorges; a little further in Cotnari is much more professional and exquisite. As we are at this chapter, if I shall to recommend one of the many hotels and restaurants in Iasi, that is doubtless Hotel Traian. Very old, very stylish, with a long history and many legends behind, is simply lovely and charming. You are going to love this hotel from the first sight.

For the culture freaks, a visit in the Culture Palace is a must do. Be aware that the huge building hosts four different museums, has an exquisite flamboyant  neogothic architecture, requires a small fee and a full day for a complete visit. You can also visit only for its museums, but it is difficult to make the choice among History Museum, Etnography Museum, Technique and civilization Museum and the Art Museum. Absolving this task of your Iasi trip asks for a visit in Wine and Vineyards museum from Hirlau.

Visiting Iasi is a pleasure and an event, but you must be very fit, as the city lies on seven hills, similar to antic Rome.

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