IASI it's a special city for me. I liked it the first time I stepped into it. Many years have passed since then, and I have continued to walk and gather memories in the beautiful city on 7 hills. I met a lot of people, and with one hand I came to make friends. Every time I get to Iasi, I feel like I'm doing it for the first time. Although I saw a part of it and I had the opportunity to listen to many beautiful stories, I feel like I have a lot to discover in the beautiful "Fair of the Exits".
If I can think better, I think IASI has attracted me a lot from the perspective of history and stories woven on these Moldovan lands. I believe that every Iasi knows at least one story with Ion Creangă, Eminescu or Cuza. And musai, all this to be listened to in a glass of wine.
If you haven't reached Iasi yet, you must go. From my experience, I will tell you 10 reasons to visit this city.
1. Bucharest - IAŞI, only 45 minutes by plane
The trip to Iasi starts with the road. Since he opened Blue Air route Bucharest - Iasi, fares have dropped dramatically, and IASI came to be at 45-50 minutes from Bucharest. If I used to ride the train before and had to stand the rail for about 6-7 hours, now I choose the plane.
In some cases, the plane ticket is much cheaper compared to the train ticket. Taking the time and following the Blue Air promotion with 15% discount, I traveled at the rate of 215 lei / 2 persons / return flights and with all taxes and services included.
Offer Blue Air!
2. Accommodation: Hotel Unirea
IAI is not an expensive city. You will be surprised, but the prices are competitive for the region and sometimes even lower compared to Bucharest and we talk here about accommodation, cafes, restaurants, fun.
Hotel Unirea, which I wholeheartedly recommend, has a very good city break offer.
SPA City Break - 500 lei
- Accommodation 2 nights - in a double room (double / twin) - 2 persons;
- Rich and tasty breakfast, served in a Swedish buffet;
- Welcome tray for the first day of accommodation;
- 1 dinner (for 2 people) (Dinner will be served at Panoramic restaurant, with prior reservation. The menu will be specially created for this package) or 1 relaxation massage (for 2 persons) (The massage will be done at the Unirea SPA, based on a software);
- 10% discount at Panoramic Restaurant a la carte preparations;
- Relaxing weekend at Unirea SPA with access to: indoor pool, heated saline, wet sauna, dry sauna, jacuzzi, cervical waterfall, emotional showers, ice fountain, cardio area, Union Gym;
- free parking.
It's hard to choose between massage and dinner, but I personally chose dinner. The view offered by the Panoramic Restaurant is unique. We enjoyed a romantic dinner for two, which was very beautiful, tasty and relaxing.
3. Discover the Moldovan cuisine
Now that we have solved the road and the accommodation, the interesting parts to discover in IAŞI follow. The third reason is related to the culinary part. I like Moldovan cuisine with roasts, Radauti soup, sarmale with polenta, Moldovan tochitură, Moldavian sizzling, and at the end some Moldovan lap-n-belts, all extinguished with a wine from the wineries in the region. I tell you honestly, you are licking your fingers! I'm not even telling you about the outlaw platters or the sheep pastrami. I leave it to you to discover for yourself. We recommend the restaurant "The Conac„, A place of Romanian tradition.
4. Wine tastings at the wineries in Iasi
Discover IASI through the prism of the Modena wine cellars. Go for wine tastings and bathe your taste buds in the holy liquor. Some recommended wineries: Gramma Winery, Bucium Wineries, Recaş Wineries, Cotnari Winery and many more.
5. Visit the Palace of Culture in IAŞI
After a hearty meal and a glass of energizing wine, let's walk through IAŞI. We start with a visit to the Palace of Culture. The Palace of Culture in Iasi is an emblematic building, built between 1906 and 1925, in the perimeter of the former medieval Moldavian Royal Court, on the site of the former Royal Palace.
Today, the Palace of Culture is the headquarters of the National Museum Complex "Moldova", which includes: The Museum of History of Moldova (1916), the Ethnographic Museum of Moldova (1943), the Museum of Art (1860), the Museum of Science and Technology "Ștefan Procopiu" ).
Almost eight years after the start of the repair and reconsolidation works, the Palace of Culture will be partially open to the public. From some information, the opening will be starting April 1. We hope it won't be a scam.
Once they have lowered the scaffolding, the Palace of Culture really looks great on the outside. We can hardly wait to discover it inside.
6. Follow the footsteps of the Unification of the Romanian Principalities
According to history, the Unification of the Romanian Principalities, known as the Little Union (the Great Union being the one from 1918), took place in the mid-19th century by uniting the states of Moldova and the Romanian Country under the name of the United Principalities of Moldova and the Romanian Country. The union was linked to the personality of Alexandru Ioan Cuza and to his election as ruler of both principalities at 5 January 1859 in Moldova and at 24 January 1859 in the Romanian Country.
Go and visit the Union Museum in Iași. You can find it at: Alexandru Lăpușneanu Street, no. 14, very close to Hotel Unirea and Unirii Square. "Romania was born in IAŞI!" (Florin Barhalescu).
7. Academic tour of IAŞULUI
Visit the "Al.I.Cuza" University and the Library of the "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University (one of the most beautiful in the world). I would have liked to be a student again, but in IAŞI. The architecture is fantastic, and the library houses over 1 million volumes. Within the "Al.I.Cuza" University, you can discover the "Hall of Lost Steps" with murals made by Sabin Bălaşa.
We have something to be proud of.
8. Cultural tour of IAŞULUI
If you still arrive in IAŞI, you are not allowed to miss "Teiul lui Eminescu", the Museum "Mihai Eminescu", Bojdeuca lui Ion Creangă, the National Theater "Vasile Alecsandri", to which you add the above mentioned and many others. I recommend you walk and you will not get bored.
9. Tour of churches in Iasi
The city of Iasi includes most of the churches in Romania. A statistic shows the existence of 71 of places of worship, of which 30 are included in the list of historical monuments.
Among the most important: the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași, which is dedicated to the Holy Pious Parascheva (can be visited at any time); Monastery of the Holy Three Hierarchs; Roman Catholic Cathedral "Holy Virgin Mary, Queen".
10. The antique galleries Dumitru Grumăzescu
Mr. Grumăzescu is a craftsman, a great admirer of Eminescu and the owner of the Antiquarian Galleries Dumitru Grumăzescu from Lăpuşneanu street, number 24, Iaşi. You will be glad to hear unwritten stories about Eminescu, Ion Crangă, Cuza. Besides his vast culture, Mr. Grumăzescu has a impressive collection of liliput books, which can be easily held in the palm.
The piece of resistance is a book with the dimensions 3 x 3 mm and contains all the poetry "Luceafarul". It was written on special paper and with hair of ivy, and its reading can only be done under a microscope. If I have aroused your interest, I really recommend you to go and take time out of 2-3 hours. It has something to tell you!
These are the 10 big and wide reasons why I recommend you go to IASI. Writing these lines, I discovered that there is another reason, but about it in another article. In order to benefit from a very good and experienced travel guide, I recommend the gentleman Florin Barhalescu full Icar Tours.
You should also visit the mall in Iasi, discos and clubs, cafes and restaurants.
Photos taken with ASUS ZenFone Selfie and Lenovo Vibe For Z2! Article written on a ASUS ZenBook UX305!
Photo by AirlinesTravel.ro - Copyright ©
The Minister of Culture told Realitatea TV that the Palace of Culture will open to the public on April 11th. It remains to be seen 🙂 I can't wait!
Yes! It seems that the situation is not very clear. And for the beginning, the palace will open, then the museums.
Anyway, it is worth visiting even outside. It looks great without scaffolding. Now attract the tourists!
Meanwhile, the Palace of Culture has been renovated and from April it can be fully visited viz
Well, it is written in large letters and mentioned this: D. I even gave a date since we estimate it will be visited!