Iasi

Known as the city on seven hills and the city of great loves, Iasi is a municipality in the Moldova region in north-eastern Romania, and formerly the capital of the Principality of Moldavia. As one of the largest cities in the country, Iasi is the social, cultural and academic center of its Romanian region. Iasi is home to the oldest Romanian University.

It’s social and cultural life is mainly centred on the National Theater which is the oldest in Romania. Other than that the Opera House, the Iasi State Philharmonic and the Tatarasi Atheneum also house some of the city’s very important socio-cultural activities. But the culture of Iasi is more diverse than expected. That’s because it hosts five foreign culture centers: French, British, German, Hellenic, and Latin American & Caribbean.

Iasi is home to great churches and monasteries. The Palace of Culture, formerly the Palace of Justice and now the National museum complex, is the leading tourist attraction in the city. Historical attractions include the Golia Monastery, the Three Hierarchs Monastery, and the former Royal court of Moldavia. Since the Jewish community once became the main residents of the city in the past, The Great Synagogue, built in 1670, serves as a great historical structure as well.

Other great sites to see in Iasi include the Old Catholic Cathedral, Iasi Railway Station, the Pogor House (meeting place for city intellectuals), the Union Museum, and the Roznovanu Palace (City Hall).

There are many places in Iasi that’s great for strolling like the Union Square and the Copou Park. But the Botanical Garden (the first in Romania) is a 100 hectare area not to be missed as it boasts of over 100 species of plants.