Page 37 iGap Travel Guide 2022
P. 37
iGap Travel Guide | Europe
37
Dragos Asaftei / Shutterstock.com
Why visit?
Romania was one of the last bastions of
communist Europe and despite suffering a lengthy
hangover since the fall of the Soviet Union, its
capital has emerged as a lively and enthralling city
break. Much of Bucharest’s appeal is in unearthing
the fascinating stories behind its communist relics
along with the personal anecdotes of those who
lived through the dark days of the Ceauşescu era
and have witnessed the changes and development
of Romania first-hand.
What to do?
One glimpse at the monolithic Palace
of Parliament is enough to realise that Bucharest
will need a sizeable facelift before it shakes off its
communist façade. Whilst appearing brutalist on the
outside, a tour of the largest and most extravagant
rooms will reveal the extent to which Ceauşescu
looked after his own interests above those of the
country. It is perhaps with little surprise then that
(spoiler alert) Ceauşescu was overthrown in the bloody
revolution of December 1989. Much of the conflict
revolved around the aptly named Revolution Square
(formerly Palace Square) where visitors today can
see the balcony from which the despised dictator’s
televised national address was disrupted by the
outbreak of the protest as well as the pockmarked
buildings after the military opened fire. There is also
a Memory Wall adorning the names of the 1,058
innocent Romanians killed during the conflict as well
as the Memorial of Rebirth monument, a 25-metre-
high needle piercing the cloud of communism.
Elsewhere, scenic beauty is provided by the 15ha
Cismigiu Park, along with architectural features
such as Arcul de Triumf which helped gain the city’s
longstanding nickname as the ‘Paris of the East’. Also,
be sure to take a stroll through the cobbled streets of
Old Town – an area untouched by the destruction of
WWII and subsequent communist regimes – where
highlights include the Old Fortress of Bucharest, one of
the former residences of Vlad the Impaler.
37
Dragos Asaftei / Shutterstock.com
Why visit?
Romania was one of the last bastions of
communist Europe and despite suffering a lengthy
hangover since the fall of the Soviet Union, its
capital has emerged as a lively and enthralling city
break. Much of Bucharest’s appeal is in unearthing
the fascinating stories behind its communist relics
along with the personal anecdotes of those who
lived through the dark days of the Ceauşescu era
and have witnessed the changes and development
of Romania first-hand.
What to do?
One glimpse at the monolithic Palace
of Parliament is enough to realise that Bucharest
will need a sizeable facelift before it shakes off its
communist façade. Whilst appearing brutalist on the
outside, a tour of the largest and most extravagant
rooms will reveal the extent to which Ceauşescu
looked after his own interests above those of the
country. It is perhaps with little surprise then that
(spoiler alert) Ceauşescu was overthrown in the bloody
revolution of December 1989. Much of the conflict
revolved around the aptly named Revolution Square
(formerly Palace Square) where visitors today can
see the balcony from which the despised dictator’s
televised national address was disrupted by the
outbreak of the protest as well as the pockmarked
buildings after the military opened fire. There is also
a Memory Wall adorning the names of the 1,058
innocent Romanians killed during the conflict as well
as the Memorial of Rebirth monument, a 25-metre-
high needle piercing the cloud of communism.
Elsewhere, scenic beauty is provided by the 15ha
Cismigiu Park, along with architectural features
such as Arcul de Triumf which helped gain the city’s
longstanding nickname as the ‘Paris of the East’. Also,
be sure to take a stroll through the cobbled streets of
Old Town – an area untouched by the destruction of
WWII and subsequent communist regimes – where
highlights include the Old Fortress of Bucharest, one of
the former residences of Vlad the Impaler.
