Fast Facts

Location: Eastern Romania (Iasi county)

Size: 37 sq. miles (96 sq. kilometers)
Elevation: 312 ft. (105 meters)
Population: 321,000
Inhabited since: 400 BC
First documented: 1387 AD
Founded in the 14th century, Iai became Moldavia's capital in 1565. Its cultural
tradition began with scholars clustering here in the early 17th century, and included a
significant Jewish population, which was sadly decimated by WWII pogroms. Prominent
literary luminaries immortalised here include Vasile Pogor, Ion Creang and poet Mihai
Eminescu. In 1862 Romania's first university, Ion Cuza, was established in Iai (it's still
going strong today, along with several others).
The city's elaborate system of boulevards and squares centres on Piaa Unirii, from
which B-dul tefan cel Mare extends south to Piaa Moldova. Between the two squares
are some of the towns most famed historic buildings, like the Moldavian Metropolitan
Cathedral and the Palace of Culture. Except for the outlying train and bus stations, most
sights are within a 15-minute walk of this area.

The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1564 to 1859, then of the United
Principalities from 1859 to 1862, and the capital of Romania from 1916 to 1918.

Known as The Cultural Capital of Romania, Iai is a symbol in Romanian history. The
historian Nicolae Iorga said "There should be no Romanian who does not know of it".

Also known as the "city of great love stories", "city of new beginnings", "cultural center of Moldavia",
"an open air museum", Iai is recognized since the 19th century as being the centre of the national
spirit. Every corner of Iai evokes a personality, a unique event, a legend, a part of a myth, every
stone talks about the past (as quoted by Topirceanu).

Iasi is the most important political, economic and cultural centre of the province of Moldavia
as well as one of the oldest cities in Romania. Located in the northeastern part of the
country, Iasi was for many centuries the crossing point of the most important commercial
routes linking Poland, Hungary, Russia and Constantinople.

Deeply rooted in history, Iasi has been the main centre of Moldavian culture since 1408. The
city prides itself with publishing the first Romanian newspaper and establishing the first
Romanian university. Today, Iasi is home to five universities.

Over the past 500 years, history, culture and religious life have molded the city's unique
character. Iasi boasts an impressive number of Orthodox churches, almost 100, most of
them located in the so-called Golden Plateau (Platoul de Aur). The oldest, the Princely Saint
Nicholas Church, dates from the reign of Stephen the Great (Stefan cel Mare, 1457-1504).
The finest, however, are the 17th centurySt. Paraschiva Metropolitan Cathedral and Trei Ierarhi
Church, the last a curious example of Byzantine art, erected in 1635-1639 by Vasile Lupu.
Its outer walls and twin towers are intricately carved in what many think of as stone lace.
Iasi is among the very few cities in the Orthodox world with more than 100 churches.

Home to the oldest Romanian university and to the first engineering school,

It is a common belief that Iai is built on seven hills (Romanian: coline): Cetuia, Galata, Copou-
Aurora, Bucium-Pun, orogari, Repedea and Breazu, thus triggering comparisons with Rome.

The first newspaper in Romanian language was published in 1829 in Iai

The "Vasile Alecsandri" National Theatre, opened in 1840, is the first National Theatre in Romania.

First memorial museum from Romania opened in Iai in 1918, as the Ion Creang Memorial House,
The First Monument in the Romanian Principalities - The Obelisk of the Lions (November 1834, Iasi, in
Copou Park), was raised as a sign of gratitude towards Russia and Turkey, in the honor of the first law
referring to the political, administrative and legal organization, - "The Organic Rules" (1832).

Copou has been a favorite place in Iasi for late afternoon strolls or morning walks since the
second half of the 17th century. In 1834, Copou became the city's first public garden and in
1860, street lamps were installed for the first time.

See[edit][add listing]
National Theatre "Vasile Alecsandri", with an exceptional interior designed by one of the most
popular architects from Vienna at the beginning of the 19th century.

Palace of Culture is one of those giant obvious monuments that the locals take for granted but
which is striking to visitors. It houses several infrequently visited museums, including a musical
instrument museum and a "village" museum with ethnic outfits. Currently closed for restoration.

Casa Dosoftei. Next to the Palace of Culture is a little stone house named after the scholar and
metropolite ("archbishop") of Moldavia Dosoftei (1624-1693). He was one of the first to use the
Romanian language for poetry and in the church and the house contains a small museum
showing early manuscripts, prints and printing presses (no English signs). [10]

Bulevardul Stefan Cel Mare (si Sfint) (Steven the Great ((and the Holy)) Boulevard) Along it
you will find the Metropolitan Church, the Trei Ierarhi Church, the Palace of Culture and the
National Theatre. If you go on this boulevard in the winter, you will find an impressive set of light
decorations. During the weekends, the boulevard is closed to traffic and contains rollerbladers,
bikers and strollarounders. On Sundays, the National Theatre park fills up with icons and nave
paintings,which one can buy for rather small prices.
 Bulevardul Copou (Copou Boulevard). Copou is a large hill in Iasi, which contains a university,
a botanical garden and many old, fancy houses. Rose bushes line its sides, and there are many
parks and old trees scattered between the buildings. It's a popular place to go for a walk, and for
locals it is considered the rich area. Head onto the side streets for the quietest, serenest part of
Iasi

Copou Park. This tame, bench and rosebush laden park is a popular destination for youth in
heat and the contemplative elderly. It's a pretty park, and you should not put your feet on the
benches (you might get fined). There are several large bushes through which you can walk, and
an extremely old linden tree held up by metal bars. Linden trees are well appreciated in Iasi,
and this particular tree is the most famous because the beloved Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu
allegedly wrote poems in its inspirational shade. In front of this linden tree, there are two large
patches of bright blue forget-me-not flowers.

Botanical Garden. The botanical garden is high up on Copou hill, and it's a popular summer
getaway. In the fall, the walnut trees drop walnuts which you can eat, and some people go to the
garden to find these.

Sala Pasilor Pierduti (The Hall of the Lost Steps). The Al. I. Cuza university in Copou houses
an exquisite hallway, in which you can get lost in poetic reverie. The hallway is empty, long and
narrow, and its walls are covered with large paintings that allude to T.S.Eliot's Wasteland and
have an intensely epic, allegorical and dreamy character. A lonely guardwatch protects the
hallway, and the door is heavy, with small windows that let the light trickle in through dust. It is a
lonely place, yet while school is in season it is tread by thousands of steps every day, which only
make it lonelier. You might also want to explore the rest of the building. A piece of advice:
freeing your mind from the confines of Euclidean geometry won't make it any easier to find your
way through the place, but you will feel less frustrated when you find out you've changed floors
just by crossing a seemingly level hallway. The classrooms use both the Arab and the Roman
numbering system, which makes it hell when you're late for an exam, and learned men all agree
that the third floor disappears during full moon. You have been warned.

The Catacombs. This network of tunnels was built hundreds of years ago for military purposes,
and connects several strategic points of Iai, including some monasteries. It is unknown to most
visitors and indeed to many locals, but will soon be opened for tourism. The entrance will be in
front of Hala Centrala (see entry under shopping), but as of April 2010, this is still a construction
site. In the mean time, you may be able to get a glimpse of the old tunnels if you pay a visit to
Casa Bolta Rece (see entry under eating)
 It all started at Iasi ::

The first Romanian university

The National Theatre Vasile Alecsandri is the First National Theatre in Romania

The First Monument in the Romanian Principalities

The First Printed Work on the Romanian Territory, the Missal

The First Botanical Garden in the Romanian Principalities (Iasi, 1856)

The First Natural History Museum in the Romanian Principalities (Iasi, 1834)

The First Romanian Literary Memorial Museum, Ion Creangas Cottage

The First Jewish Theatre in Romania and in the World

The First Romanian Medical School, University-like, The Surgery School

The Great Synagogue, the First Jewish Praying House, in Romania (Iasi, 1659-1670).

George Emil Palade, the First Romanian Laureate of the Nobel Prize (Iasi, 1912 - U.S.A., 2008)

The First Romanian Woman, Owner of the Title of a University Professor

The First Romanian Surgeon Woman

The First Romanian she-lawyer

Grigore Cobalcescu, the founder of the Romanian Geology School and of the Geophysics
research (Iasi,

The first Romanian Scientific Society

Eduard Gruber, the first researcher in Art Psychology, in Romania (1861 - 1896)

The first Romanian Chemistry - Physics university course

The first Romanian Electricity Laboratory (Iasi, 1910)

 The first 3D hologram in a Romanian Memorial Museum (Iasi, February, 2012)

The first Romanian member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin - Dimitrie Cantemir
(16731723)

The first Romanian operetta, Baba Harca/The Old Witch

The First Botanical Garden in the Romanian Principalities (Iasi, 1856) was founded by the doctor and
naturalist Anastasie Fatu. Its present surface is about 100 hectares and houses 2.000 species of trees,
bushes and different plants from all over the world. It is the biggest botanical garden in Romania and one of
the biggest in Europe.

The first Romanian university - Alexandru Ioan Cuza University was founded in Iasi, by Prince Alexandru
Ioan Cuza, thanks to Mihail Kogalniceanu`s help. Its present headquarters was inaugurated on the 21st of
October 1897, in the presence of King Carol Ist and Queen Elizabeth. The palace is the design of the
architect Louis Blanc and it has been built on a surface of 100,000 square meters. The building is a mixture
of the Classical and Baroque styles. Examples are the two great lions, carved in stone, above the exterior
stairs marking the central monumental entrance, which is leading to the famous Hall of the Lost Footsteps.
The later is famous for its impressive mural paintings, signed by the well-known, Romanian painter Sabin
Balasa. Among the prestigious graduates of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, we reckon scientists and
professors, such as: the geologist Grigore Cobalcescu, the physicist and the chemist Petru Poni, the linguist
and philologist Alexandru Philippide, the historian Alexandru D. Xenopol, the physicist Dragomir
Hurmuzescu, the mathematicians Alexandru Miller and Octav Mayer, the historian and politician Gheorghe
Bratianu, the famous doctor Grigore T. Popa, the historian Gheorghe Platon, the academician Alexandru
Zub, the physicist and inventor Stefan Procopiu, the critic and historian Constantin Ciopraga, the linguist
Gheorghe Ivanescu and the list may continue.

The National Theatre Vasile Alecsandri is the First National Theatre in Romania - built in Iasi (1894-1896),
following the plans of the famous Viennese architects, Fellner and Helmer. It was inaugurated on the 1st of
December 1896. Together with the theatre, its electrical factory was also inaugurated, this event marking
the beginning of the electrical illumination at Iasi. In 1956, when they celebrated 140 years from the first
performance in the Romanian language, the National Theatre in Iasi received the name of the greatest poet
and playwright, Vasile Alecsandri (1821-1890).

The First Monument in the Romanian Principalities - The Obelisk of the Lions (November 1834, Iasi, in
Copou Park), was raised as a sign of gratitude towards Russia and Turkey, in the honor of the first law
referring to the political, administrative and legal organization, - "The Organic Rules" (1832). The monument
was erected by the architects Johan Freywald and Mihail Singurov, and the project was signed by Gheorghe
Asachi. Having 13 m height and 10 t weight, the column of rock is held by four giant lions, created at
Lemberg, by the sculptor Johann Semser.
 The First Printed Work on the Romanian Territory, the Missal was printed by the Serbian monk, Macarie
(1508); today it is displayed at "Dosoftei" House. The First Botanical Garden in the Romanian
Principalities (Iasi, 1856)

The First Natural History Museum in the Romanian Principalities (Iasi, 1834) was founded in order to present
the terrestrial and under-terrestrial wealth of Moldavia as well as some of the curiosities from all over the
world.

The First Romanian Literary Memorial Museum, Ion Creangas Cottage was inaugurated on 15th of April
1918. In this house, built in Iasi (Ticau suburb), the writer Ion Creanga lived, from July 1872, up to his
death, 31st of December 1889. Here he met his friend, the writer Mihai Eminescu; in this house Ion Creanga
wrote his entire work: "Memories of my Boyhood (Childhood Memories)", "Tales and Stories".

The First Jewish Theatre in Romania and in the World was founded at "The Green Tree"/"Pomul Verde" (Iasi,
1876), by the famous playwright Avram Goldfaden (1840 - 1908). There are few words that recall the
existence of this theatre one of them, an inscription engraved on a stone is oriented towards the National
Theatre "Vasile Alecsandri", on the esplanade park.

The First Romanian Medical School, University-like, The Surgery School with teaching classes in the
Romanian language, forerunner of the Faculty of Medicine was founded in Iasi by Nicolae Negura and
inaugurated on the 30th of November 1859, in the "Mihaileana" Academy headquarters, thanks to Prince
Alexandru Ioan Cuzas efforts.

The Great Synagogue, the First Jewish Praying House, in Romania (Iasi, 1659-1670).

George Emil Palade, the First Romanian Laureate of the Nobel Prize (Iasi, 1912 - U.S.A., 2008)

The First Romanian Woman, Owner of the Title of a University Professor

The First Romanian Surgeon Woman

The First Romanian she-lawyer

Grigore Cobalcescu, the founder of the Romanian Geology School and of the Geophysics
research (Iasi,

The first Romanian Scientific Society

Eduard Gruber, the first researcher in Art Psychology, in Romania (1861 - 1896)

The first Romanian Chemistry - Physics university course

 The first Romanian Electricity Laboratory (Iasi, 1910)

The first 3D hologram in a Romanian Memorial Museum (Iasi, February, 2012) represented Mihail
Kogalniceanu, interpreted by the actor Nicolae Urs. The record can be admired, shoot photographed at the
Memorial Museum Mihail Kogalniceanu.

The first Romanian member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin - Dimitrie Cantemir
(16731723)

The first Romanian operetta, Baba Harca/The Old Witch

Iasi - historical reference points

Archaeological diggings certify the existence of human settlements on the today's territory of Iasi since
Paleolithic.
1408 - the first documentary attestation of the city
1565 - during the second reign of Alexandru Lapusneanu, Iasi became the capital of Moldavia, being at
that time an important economical, political and cultural centre.
5th?of January 1859 - colonel Al. I. Cuza becomes the Prince of Moldavia
After the union of the Romanian Principalities on 24th of January 1859, Iasi functioned as the capital of
Moldavia until the administrative union in 1862.
1860 - Al. I. Cuza founds at Iasi the first university in Romania
11th of November 1916 during World War I, the Royal Court, the Parliament and the Romanian Government
withdrew from Bucharest to Iasi.

General information
Region: North-East
Residence: Iasi
Location: Iasi is situated in the eastern side of Moldova, on the Bahlui River, affluent of Jijia that flows into
the Prut River. It is the legendary city of the 7 hills: Cetuia, Galata, Copou, Bucium, orogari, Repedea
and Breazu
Population: 305,978 inhabitants
Total surface: 5,476 km
Coordinates: 47944N, 273520E
Includes: 2 municipalities (Iasi, Pascani), 3 cities (H?rlu, Podu Iloaiei, Trgu Frumos), 93 communes
Twin cities: Poitiers (France), Xi'an (China), Vinita (Ukraine), Padova (Italy), Assiut (Egypt), Isfahan
(Iran), Sant Oreste (Italy), Nazzano (Italy), Torrita Tiberina (Italy), Filacciano (Italy), Forano (Italy),
Morlupo (Italy), Athens (Greece), Georgia (USA), Quebec (Canada), Peristeri (Greece), Villeneuve d'Ascq
(France), Jerico (Palestine).
Iasi is the second city in the country taking into account the number of residents, but also in cultural,
historical and academic terms
The second largest university centre in Romania

In 1565, Iasi became the capital of Moldavia and for a short period of time, from 1859 until
1862, the capital of Romania.
The Golden Plateau represents the nucleus of the city, around which the entire settlement
developed over the centuries. With the Palace of Culture at one end and theUnion Square (Piata
Unirii) at the other, the Golden Plateau features churches and princely palaces on both sides
of Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Boulevard, which runs right through its centre. Many other important
sites can be found on nearby streets.
Gardens, parks and natural landmarks[edit]

Ciric Park

Iai has a diverse array of public spaces, from city squares to public parks.

Mihai Eminescu's statue and his Linden Tree in Copou Park

Begun in 1833, at the time when Iai was the capital of Moldavia, by Prince Mihail Sturdza and
under the plans of Gheorghe Asachi and Mihail Singurov, Copou Park was integrated into the city
and marks one of the first Romanian coordinated public parks. The oldest monument in Romania
stands in the middle of the park, the Obelisk of Lions (1834), a 13.5 m (44.29 ft) tall obelisk,
dedicated to the Law of Organic Rules, the first law on political, administrative and juridical
organization in Romanian Principalities.[39]
Founded in 1856, the Botanical Garden of Iai, the first botanical garden in Romania, has an area of
over 100 hectares, and more than 10,000 species of plants.

Iai Exhibition Park was opened in 1923 and built under the coordination of the architect N. Ghica
Budeti.

The Ciric Park, located in the north-eastern part of Iai is another complex which consists into the
park and four lakes.
Eminescu's Linden Tree (Romanian: Teiul lui Eminescu) is a 500 year old silver lime (Tilia
tomentosa Moench) situated in the Copou Public Garden. Mihai Eminescu reportedly wrote some of
In epoca preistorica, pe teritoriul Iasului se dezvolta remarcabila cultura Cucuteni, semn
distinctiv pentru Romania. Mai apoi datorita plasarii orasului intre zonele comerciale din Europa
de Nord si Est si in zona Marii Negre, s-a facut simtit un mix de influiente dacice, grecesti,
romane si bizantine.
Au fost ample discutii in jurul datei cand Iasii au fost mentionati pentru prima data. S-au
vehiculat mai multi ani insa toti istorici sunt de acord ca anul 1408, cand Iasii figureaza ca loc de
taxare pentru negustorii polonezi carora Alexandru cel Bun le daduse un privilegiu comercial,
reprezinta data cea mai sigura pentru prima pomenire a asezarii. Strainii au reprezentat un izvor
permanent de populatie pentru oras, ca si o sursa de venituri pentru domnie. Pe langa romani, au
venit aici armeni, unguri, polonezi, nemti sau rusi, grupati in functie de religie si ocupatie.

Dezvoltarea orasului a inceput sa se intensifice in special in cea de-a doua jumatate a secolului
XVI, cand Iasul a devenit capitala Moldovei. Cnjugata cu dezvoltarea economica si comerciala a
fost si cea spirituala si crestina. Bisericile initiale din lemn, distruse de vicisitudinile vremii au
fost inlocuite de trainicile zidiri din piatra: biserica Sf Sava (sec XIV), biserica Armeana (1395),
biserica Sf Nicolaie Domnesc (1491-1493), Biserica Alba (1492).
Din nepretuitul patrimoniu mai putem mentiona MAnastirea Galata, Manastirea 3 Ierarhi,
biserica Barboi, biseric Barnovschi,manastirea Cetatuia si biserica Frumoasa.
Ca dimensiune punctul de apogeu a fost atins in perioada domniei lui Vasile Lupu si a
domnitorilor fanarioti, cand orasul s-a extins in toate directiile, predominant spre Nord. Suburbia
denumita Muntenime (actuala Sararie) se intindea pana la marginia Rapei Galbene.Cartierele
Bucsinescu, Tatarasi si Ciurchi au fost modernizate si populate in secolul al XVIII lea. Au aparut
pravalioare, case boieresti, spiterii si spitale. O mandrie a orasului erau fanarele din Iasi prin care
se facea iluminarea stradala. Datorita influientelor progresiste ale Poloniei si Frantei, in
concordanta cu ideologia vremii se modernizeaza intreaga infatisare a asezarii.

Miscarile revolutionare de la 1848, pregatite de Gheoghe Asachi si generatia sa sunt continuate

de monumentele din Gradina Copou, noul Teatru si Cazarma din Copou. Meritul Iasului e de a fi
initiat revolutia de la 1848, ca o corespondenta cu cea din 1989, extina apoi pe teritoriul
romanesc. Nume rasunatoare se fac cunoscute pe scena culturala - Gheorghe Asachi, Mihail
Kogalniceanu, Vasile Alecsandri, Titu Maiorescu, Vasile Pogor.
Clubul Junimea a fost leaganul creatiilor lui Eminescu, Caragiale, Creanga , Xenopol, Culianu,
Petru Poni si altii.
O alta glorioasa perioada e cea interbelica, materializata prin intelectualii de la Contemporanul si
Viata Romaneasca - Garabet Ibraileanu, Mihail Sadoveanu, fratii Teodoreanu, Otilia Cazimir
pentru a numi doar o parte a pleiadei.
Cea mai veche universitate a tarii, fondata de Alexandru Ioan Cuza e completata si imbogatita
cu Scoala de Ingineri, infiintata de Gheoghe Asachi.
Ca numar de institutii Iasul este pe locul doi dupa Bucuresti, avand institutii culturale ca de
exemplu: Complexul Muzeal National Moldova, Teatrul National "Vasile Alecsandri", Opera
Romana Iasi, Muzeul Literaturii Romane, Casa Dosoftei, Muzeul Teatrului, Casa Negruzzi, Casa
Vasile Alecsandrii, Bojdeuca Ion Creanga, Muzeul Mihai Eminescu, Casa Pogor, Casa Mihail
Sadoveanu, Casa George Toparceanu, Vila Sonet, Filarmonica Moldova Iasi.
Pe langa toate aceste muzee , in averea culturala a urbei mai intra si colectii organizate
la Manastirea Golia, Biserica 3 Ierarhi, Manastirea Galata, Mitropolia Moldovei si Bucovinei
precum si selectia unica de plante existenta la Gradina Botanica "Anastasie Fatu"
ANASTIRI DIN IASI

his best works underneath this lime, rendering the tree one of Romania's most
important natural monuments and a notable Iai landmark.[40] The Odd Poplers Alley, in Bucium
neighborhood, is another spot where Mihai Eminescu sought inspiration (the poem "Down Where the
Lonely Poplars Grow"). In 1973, the 15 white poplars still left (with the age ranges between 233 and
371 years) were declared natural monuments.

Iai County has 387 centuries-old trees, of which 224 were declared monument trees and 160 got
the Romanian Academy's approval and are proposed for such a classification. Most of them are oak
or linden trees. The oldest tree in the county is the 675-year-old hybrid lime tree located in the
courtyard of Brnova Monastery, in the vicinity of Iai. When the lime was about 57 years old and
had about 14 cm (5.5 in) in diameter, Iai was mentioned as an urban settlement, during the reign of
Prince Alexander the Good (1408).[41]