🇷🇴 Romania

Hej! I’m sharing a glimpse of my experience visiting fabulous Romania. I was there in the summer of 2023. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to.
Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and does not cover all the wonderful local features and places ☺️.

🗺 Places: Bucharest, Sinaia, Bran.

🏛 Top sights visited:

1. Bucharest
   • The Parliament of Romania (Parlamentul României)
   • Stavropoleos Monastery (Mănăstirea Stavropoleos)
   • Bucharest Old Town (Orasul Vechi Bucuresti)
   • The CEC Palace (Palatul CEC)
   • Curtea Veche Church (Biserica Curtea Veche)
   • National Bank of Romania (Banca Națională a României)
   • Palace of Justice (Palatul Justiției)
2. Sinaia
   • Pelesh Castle (Castelul Peleș)
   • Pelishor Castle (Castelul Pelișor)
   • Sinaia Monastery (Mănăstirea Sinaia)
   • The Casino of Sinaia (Cazinoul Sinaia)
   • Hotel Palace (Hotel Palace)
   • Dimitrie Ghica Park (Parcul Dimitrie Ghica)
3. Bran
   • Bran Castle (Castelul Bran)
   • Royal Park (Parcul Regal)
   • The Castle of Horror (Castelul Groazei)

🎧 Local musicians:

• 🇷🇴 Akcent (band). Genre: eurodance
• 🇷🇴 Mario Fresh (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇺🇳 Morandi (duo). Genre: eurodance
• 🇺🇳 Alis Shuka (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇺🇳 INNA (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇺🇳 Edward Maya (DJ). Genre: eurodance
• 🇺🇳 Minelli (singer). Genre: pop

🎚️ Contribution to EDM:

• Romanian Popcorn. Originated: late 2000s
• Modern Manele. Originated: early 1990s

🥘 Local food & drinks:

• Tochitura (Tochitură)
• Sarmale (Sarmale)
• Mititei (Mici)
• Romanian Ciorba (Ciorba)
• Romanian Polenta (Mămăligă)

🎬 Local movies:

• The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Moartea Domnului Lăzărescu). Year: 2005. Genre: drama / tragedy

🪔 Authentic features:

• Romanian Hora Dance (Hora)
• The Doina Song (Doina)
• The Ballad of Miorița (Miorița)
• The Paparuda Ritual (Păpăluga)
• The Martisor Celebration (Mărțișor)
• Brâncovenesc Architecture (Artă Brâncovenească)
• Romanian Cars (Brand: “Dacia”)
• Authentic Musical Instrument: Romanian Nai (Nai)
• The Culture of Romani (Romi / Romane Manusha)
  • Authentic Principle: Romanipen (Romanipenul / Romanipen)
  • The Lăutărească Music & Lăutari (Muzica Lăutărească și Lăutari / Lăutărească Muzika thaj Lăutari)
  • Authentic Garb: Romani Dress (Rochii Țigănești / Romane Gada)
• The Legacy of Dacians (Dacii / Δάκοι)
• The Heritage of the Principality of Wallachia (Țara Românească / Цѣра Рꙋмѫнѣскъ)

💐 National flower: Romanian Peony (Bujor Românesc)

🦉 Local wisdom: “The good man values goodness, as the bee values the flower.” / “Omul bun preţuieşte bunătatea, aşa cum albina preţuieşte floarea.” — Romanian proverb

👨‍🎓 The oldest university: The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza"), Iași, est. 1640.