Ignore the car showrooms and light industry on the edge of the city, the centre of the city especially along Piata Trandafirilor is splendid. This was the centre of government and the rulers of Transylvania lived here for two centuries. Many of the buildings are Art Nouveau, dating from the end of the C19th. Government house is next to a very large Catholic Church. A bit further along is the City Hall with its decorative tile roof and the splendid PALACE OF CULTURE (5*). This was built between 1911-13 and no expense was spared. On the outside are bronze bas-reliefs and brightly coloured mosaics. The roof is covered with enamel tiles from Hungary.
Through the stained glass doors, the inside is even more impressive. The massive entrance hall has black and gold pillars support the painted ceiling. Brightly coloured mosaics show scenes of Roman culture. At either end are huge mirrors. Marble staircases lit by stained glass windows showing Hungarian politicians and artists lead up to the Hall of Mirrors on the first floor.
This was used for concerts and receptions and is a long gallery with wall pillars and chairs and tables down the sides. The twelve stained glass windows show scenes of peasant life and Hungarian Folk lore. (Photography is not allowed in here.) There is a recording in English explaining the different scenes.
The huge concert hall is one of the largest in Europe and opens off the main hall with another entrance off the second floor. It has a splendid ceiling.
Piata Trandafirilor is lined with splendid buildings and palaces which are now shops or restaurants. Roma can be seen wearing their traditional costume. At the far end is the Orthodox Cathedral.
Piata Teatrului is a large open paved area built on the site of a demolished Catholic church. Along one side is the yellow building of the King’s Palace which is now the Ethnographic Museum.
This is an attractive modern Romanian town. The main attraction on the tourist itinerary is the Palace of Culture, which really is an incredible building, although a bit over the top…
There are more pictures “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/romania/day_five/five_one/index.html
We had a short stop here between Sighisoara and Bucovina on a ten day visit to Romania. My full report with all my pictures is “here.”:http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/otherholidays/romania/index.html
