Description
Bucharest, the small Paris of the East
Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life, Bucharest, Romania's largest city and capital is today a bustling metropolis.
Bucharest is the city of many parks and gardens, surrounded by lakes and forests. During the 1930's its tree-lined boulevards and architecture gave it the nickname 'Little Paris'.
Touristic attractions included: Revolution Square, Parliament Palace - second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, Village Museum, Arch of Triumph, the Athenaeum, Royal Palace, Kiseleff Boulevard, Old Center.
Itinerary:
Old Historical Center of Bucharest - Perhaps the city's unique charm can be best observed in the area known as Lipscani, which consists of a jumble of streets between Calea Victoriei, Blvd. Bratianu, Blvd. Regina Elisabeta and the Dambovita River. A once-glamorous residential area, the old city centre is now slowly being refashioned into an upscale neighborhood.
Parliament Palace - Built by Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu, the colossal Parliament Palace is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. The interior is a luxurious display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows and floors covered in rich carpets.
Village Museum - Founded by royal decree in 1936, this fascinating outdoor museum, the largest in Europe, covers some 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau in Herastrau Park. It features a collection of 50 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's rural architecture.