Iași became over time an important economic, cultural, and religious center
La Cattedrale Metropolitana di Iași, che custodisce le reliquie di Santa Parascheva (foto: Radio Romania Internazionale)
Călin Coțoiu and Ștefan Baciu,
28.05.2026, 17:15
Attested in 1408, in a document issued by the ruler of Moldavia, Alexandru cel Bun, Iași became over time an important economic, cultural, and religious center, especially after 1565, when ruler Alexandru Lăpuşneanu decided to grant this settlement the status of capital of Moldavia, a status that would be maintained until 1862, when the administrative union of the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia took place. Over the centuries, many impressive buildings were erected in Iași which, over time, became part of the cultural heritage. A symbolic place is the Union Square, not to be missed during a visit to the historic area of the city.
Mihai Bulai, vice-dean of the Faculty of Geography and Geology in Iași, and volunteer tour guide of the “Iași.Travel” Association, proposed Union Square as a starting point for exploring the city:
“A tourist route in Iași begins in its historical center, namely in Union Square, the place where the History of Romania and the Union of the Principalities were written during the time of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. In 1859, on January 24, the ruler of Moldavia at that time, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, received the great news that in Bucharest, on Metropolitan Hill, that the Public Assembly of Wallachia had also elected him as its ruler. And then in the square in Iași, the Central Square, later called Union Square, he gathered the people of Iași to give them the great news and to perform a traditional round dance. The Hora Unirii was also sung then, a patriotic song that remained until today as a symbol of the city. In Unirii Square, the oldest and most representative building is the Traian Hotel from 1882, whose architect is said to be Gustav Eiffel himself. This Belle Epoque style of the late 19th century is still present today, alongside the Braunstein Palace, another interesting hotel. It is currently an international center, an Art Nouveau building, with a recent glass dome, where various events take place, and from where you can admire Unirii Square. Here, in Unirii Square, the people of Iași meet with their loved ones, for protests, for meetings, even to dance. The atmosphere is delightful.”
Inaugurated in 1915, the Braunstein Palace, named after Adolf Braunstein, an entrepreneur who owned several shops in the vicinity, was a luxury hotel, bank, as well as party and newspaper headquarters. During the communist period, after nationalization, the spaces on the upper floors of the building were transformed into social housing. After the anti-communist Revolution of December 1989, some parts of the building were ceded back to the original owners, and in 2014, the building became the property of City Hall. After an extensive restoration process, the Braunstein Palace regained its splendor, becoming, in 2022, an architectural jewel. Let’s continue the tour in the historical area of Iași:
“Our route continues on Cuza Vodă Street, which reminds us of the role of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, ruler of the Union, going to the Civil Registry or the Marriage House, an 18th century palace. This was also the seat of City Hall, and currently is a department of it, namely the Civil Registry. Here, the 19th century architecture is striking. We also have a small square, the former City Hall Square, currently called the December 14, 1989 Square, which reminds us of the role of Iași in the outbreak of the Timișoara Revolution itself, two days later, on December 16. Back then, in Iași, there was a desire to protest against Ceaușescu. This square is full of cafes and confectioneries, and has a special charm and introduces us to Cuza Vodă Street, which is a commercial street that still retains this 19th century charm, an equivalent, let’s say, of Lipscani Street in Bucharest.”
Together with the tour guide and professor Mihai Bulai, we reached another symbolic building, that of the National Theatre:
“Towards the theater we reach the statue of Miron Costin, a scholar and diplomat of the 17th century, where we have a concentration of the cultural area: the Philharmonic, the “George Enescu” University of Arts, and the National Theater, which also hosts the Romanian National Opera, an impressive building which 10 years ago was chosen by the BBC as among the most beautiful and majestic theaters in the world. Since then, guided tours have been offered, including in the Great Hall, where performances take place. The theatre’s esplanade, on the site of the old park, is delightful with its artesian fountains and a new amphitheater.”
Viennese architects Hermann Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner, famous at the time because they had already completed 23 similar projects, were hired by City Hall for the new building of the National Theater in Iași, a building that was inaugurated on December 1, 1896. The theater was also equipped with an electrical plant from which the first public lighting installations in Iași were powered.
