Cultural Immersion: Bucharest (Romania)

Flag of Romania

▪ The country (Romania)
Authentic, natural and cultural, are the words that Best capture the essence of Romania, country of  southeastern Europe. The national capital is Bucharest. Romania was occupied by Soviet troops in 1944 and become a satellite of Union of Soviet Socialist Reublic in 1948. The Romanian landscape is approximately one-third mountainous and one-third forested  [Read more] 

Bucharest

Bucharest is the largest capital and city of Romania. The capital was founded on the Banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarilly means “joy”.  Bucharest gets a bad raputation, but in fact it’s dynamic, energetic and fun.

(Read more) 

▪ Tourist spots

▪ Palace of Parliament

This architectural colossus wins many plaudits, including heaviest building in the world, the largest building in Europe (nearly four million square feet and one thousand rooms) and also the world’s second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon

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▪ Stavropoleos Church

Built in the 18th century by Greek monk loanikie Stratonikeas, the Stavropoelos Church is tiny, peaceful and beautiful. Constructed in Brancoveanu style it features an intricately carved and columned entrance

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▪ Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum
Is the museum from the heart of Bucharest, who opened his gates for the public in 1936. The permanent exhibition covers a 14ha area having 360 monuments, 60.000 objects in his collections and over 250.000 documents regarding  the village and life in the Archive

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▪ The Old Town

The Old Town is one of the earliest settlements in Bucharest, some structures date back to the 15th centurie. It was also the seat of Romanian princes. After  a long time as a slum, much of The Old Town has been gentrifed and renovated. (Read more) 

▪ Romanian Athenaeum

Romanian Athenaeum is the stately and most prestigious concert hall. Designed by French architect Albert Galleron in 19th-century, the structure  resembles an ancient Greek temple with a 41-meter-high dome and a peristyle of six lonic columns.  (Read more)

▪ The Old Princely Court

The Old Princely Court was the residence of Wallachian princes, including Vlad Tepes, known as Vlad the Impaler, who inspired Bram Stoker’s tale of Dracula. The palatial residence also includes a statue of the infamous Romanian prince stands among what’s left from the past, including the court’s walls, several arches and columns. (Read more)

▪ Revolution Square

Named after setting the scene of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s final minutes of Power in Romania, Revolution Square is one of the most visited tourist spots in Bucharest. Revolution Square is also known for the dramatic Monument of Rebirth, erected in 2005 it includes  the names of the 1.058 victims of the bloody revolution and a bronze statue of Luliu Maniu, the Romanian prime minister imprisoned by the communist party. (Read more)

▪ Cuisine

▪ Mamaliga Cu Branza Si Smantana

Mamaliga is the name of a food made from boiled corn meal similiar to polenta. Traditionally, cornmeal  is used to be cooked in salty water in a cast iron couldron. Layers of cheese added  to the cooked cornmeal and a sour cream topping
(Check out the recipe) 



▪ Sarmale

Sarmale (Cabbage rolls): Sarmale rolls are made of ground meat (usually pork, but also beef,sheep, pultry or even fish) mixed with rice and other ingredients and rolled into cabbage leaves. In some regions Sarmale rolls are served with cooked corn meal  and sour cream. (Read more) 

(Check out the recipe) 

▪ Placinte Cu Brânza Dulce

Fried dough with sweet cheese is an ancient traditional food in Romania. This delicious dessert is  usually filled with sweet cheese and it is sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Check out Placinte cu brânza Dulce recipe

▪ Salata Boeuf

Salata Boeuf or  Beef Salad is a salad made of diced boiled vegetables including potatoes, parsnips and peas, as well some pickled cucumbers and red peppers and diced beef. There is  also the vegetarian version of it called Russian salad. (Read more)

▪ Tuica

Tuica is a tradictional alcoholic beverage in Romania, usually made from plums. Very popular among Romanians as, according to tradition, no meal may start without a shot of Tuica. (Read more)

▪ Marghiloman

Marghiloman is the most expensive Romanian coffee, the Marghiloman is served in a pot, carried on a tray whit some ice cubes, sugar accompained by a glass of brandy or better still rum. (Read more)

▪ Romanian Bean Soup

Bean soup is one of  the core foods in Romanian cuisine.  In the South, bean soup is prepared with several kinds of vegetables added. Despite the differences, bean soup remains a national treasure. (Check out the recipe)

▪ Habits

Participating in national celebrations is the bets way to get acquainted with national traditions and customs of Bucharest. Because of a wide choice of interesting celebrations Buharest is often called the city of the festivals.

(Read more)

▪ Climate

Bucharest has a humid continental climate. The best time to visit Bucharest is during the months of June, May, Jule, August and September. The coolest month is January and February. (Read more)

 

▪ Cost of Living

In Bucharest the cost of living is generally much cheaper than major Western European capitals, but there are places for example bars, restaurants and shops that charge similar prices to their Western European counterpairts, the city also has the highest cost of living in the country, so prices anywhere outside the city are generally cheaper. (Read more)

▪ Music

The conservation of Romanian folk music has been aided by a large and enduring audience and by numerous performers who helped propagate and further develop the folk sound. (Read more)

▪ Extra