“AL.I.CUZA” UNIVERSITY IAŞI

Modern IASIDiscovered and presented by the

pupils from 5A and 5C grades

• It is the symbolic continuation of Vasiliena Academy, founded by the ruler Vasile Lupu in 1640.• The University in Iasi was built upon Mihăileană Academy, founded by the ruler Mihail Sturdza in1834.

“AL.I.CUZA” UNIVERSITY IAŞI

• It is the first modern university in Romania

•As a modern educational institution, it was founded in 1860.

•“Al.I.Cuza” University was inaugurated in 1860, in the presence of the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Nowadays, the university is named after him.

• The functioning building was built between 1893-1897 based on the plans of the architect Louis Blanc.

• The inauguration in 1897 was organized in the presence of the King Carol I and of Queen Elisabeth.

• The building combines the Baroque and Classic styles.

The main entrance leads to the famous “Hall of the Lost Steps”, decorated with paintings by the Romanian painter Sabin Bălaşa.

The 19 mural paintings that cover 120 m2 were designed as a representation of the Romanian soul and comprise universal myths, Romanian legends and representations of the university life.

“VASILE ALECSANDRI” NATIONAL THEATRE

Even though the idea of a theatre in Iasi dates from 1645, the first plays were held in the houses of a landowner family, in 1816.

The Grand Theatre in Copou was built in 1840 and then destroyed in a fire in 1888.

It was only in 1894 when the building of the nowadays theatre was started with the plans of Vienese architects Fellner and Helmer who built more than 20 European theatres.

“Vasile Alecsandri” National Theatre in Iaşi is the oldest and most beautiful theatre in Romania, with ornamentations in Rococo and Baroque style.

The Grand Hall has 750 seats. The curtain was painted by M. Lenz and one of his disciples.

The ceiling was painted by Al. Goltz, presenting paradise allegories with nymphs and angels in Rococo style. On the ceiling, above the orchestra, there are also the stems of the four Romanian united provinces, with the heraldic signs and the royal stem, covered during the communist period.

The palace of culture IAŞI

An emblem for Iasi, it was built in the XX century and it is registered in the List of the historic monuments.

The area is full of history: the Palace was built on the former medieval Royal Court, which was attested in 1434.

The imposing Royal Palace was built in Neoclassic style, between 1806-1812, by Vv. Alexandru Moruzzi, on the grounds of a former Royal Court.

After the Union of the Principalities in 1859 and the relocation of the capital in Bucharest, The Royal palace becomes an Administrative palace.

The inauguration of The Equestrian Statue of Stephen the Great, in front of the Palace, took place in 1883 in the presence of The King Carol I. The statue was made of bronze by the French sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet.

King Carol I said the following on that occasion: “I entrust this statue to Iasi, the cradle of union, and also two towers preserved with the precious blood of the present generation […]”– the two Krupp towers are trophies from the Independence War in Romania, between 1877-1878.

In 1883 The Administrative Palace is destroyed by a fire. Between1906-1925 the building is reconstructed into what it is today the Palace of Culture, in flamboyant neogothic style, with ornaments and heraldic elements in the exterior.“Moldavia” National Museum Complex is located in the building.

THE METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

The Metropolitan Cathedral in Iasi is the premises of the Moldavian and Bucovina Metropolitan Churches, one of the six metropolitan cathedrals in Romania.

The Metropolitan Cathedral was included on the list of historical monuments in Romania.

It was build on the location of two medieval churches, first between 1833-1839, and then between 1880-1887.

The monumental building has a rectangular shape, being marked at the corners by four derricks.

The architectural style is inspired by the late Italian Renaissance.

The decorative elements both from the interior and exterior are mainly baroque.

THE BOTANICAL GARDEN IN IAŞI

“Anastasie Fătu” Botanical Garden in Iaşi is the oldest botanical

garden in Romania.

It was founded in 1856 by Anastasie Fătu, doctor and naturalist, on a property of his own. Later on , it was arranged on Copou hill.

The Botanical Garden covers 250 acres, 2000 plant species grouped according to natural plant families.

THE ROZNOVANU PALACE – IAŞI TOWN HALL

It is an architectural monument, built between the 7th and 10th decades of the 18th century.

The palace was rebuilt between1830-1833 by Gustav Freyvald, who created the pan for the Metropolitan Church in Iasi.

The Palace is build in the neoclassic style with baroque ornaments, as it can be seen from the architecture, interior frescos and the statues outside in 1830.

Up until 1891, when it was sold to the state, the palace belonged to the influent family Rosetti-Roznovanu, hosting various personalities and historical events of that time.

It was also a temporary residence for the Romanian Royal family.

During World War II, between 1916-1918, the palace was the premises for the Government and the War council, a period in which Iasi was the capital of Romania.

Nowadays, The Roznovanu Palace is the premises of the

City Hall.