The original interior paintings were completed by Russian artists sent to Iasi by the Tsar. Legend has it that the exterior was covered in gold, silver and lapis lazuli but centuries ago, when the Ottoman Empire tried to conquer Moldavia, the invaders sat the church on fire and melted all the gold. This "stone embroidery" is a mixture of western gothic, Renaissance and Oriental motifs. Nothing can prepare you, though, for its stunning ornate decoration: the entire exterior of the church is covered in delicate and intricate patterns sculpted into the stone and spread over 30 friezes. The Church of the Three Hierarchs (constructed 1637 - 1639) is highlighted George (Biserica Sfantul Gheorghe).Įvery October 14, pilgrims from all corners of Romania and neighboring countries flock to Iasi to kneel before the blue and gold bier containing the relics of Saint Paraschiva, the patron saint of the cathedral. Nearby stands the 18th century Old Metropolitan Church of St. Inside the bell, an inscription says it was made from four cannons captured from the Turkish army in the War of 1828-1829. The cathedral still uses one of the original bells in its northeast spire. The relics were moved to the Metropolitan Cathedral in 1889 after a fire damaged the Trei Ierarchi Church where they had originally been placed. In 1639, Vasile Lupu spent Moldavia's budget for the following year and a half to acquire the relics of St.
The vast interior was painted in 1887 by Gheorghe Tattarescu and the stained glass windows were completed by a Bavarian factory in Munich. Construction began in 1833 and ended in 1839, but its cupolas fell and the church remained in ruins until 1880, when, with the help of the Foundation of King Carol I, work started again, lasting until 1888. Paraschiva Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Romania. Stefan cel Mare si Sfant 46īuilt in Italian Renaissance style, the St. (Catedrala Mitropolitana Sfanta Paraschiva)Īddress: Blvd. Tickets are required for entry to the museums.
The interior décor, with the lavish furnishings and magnificent staircase of the entrance lobby, can be admired free of charge The Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of ArtĪnd the Museum of Science and Technology (More Info). Today, the 365-room palace houses the Gheorghe Asachi Library and four of the city's museums: the Moldavian History Museum, Stands partly on the ruins of a medieval royal court mentioned in documents dating from 1434. This remarkable construction (1906-1925), built in flamboyant neogothic style,
Landmarks Palace of CultureĪddress: Piata Stefan cel Mare si Sfant 1 Many other important sites can be found on nearby streets. With the Palace of Culture at one end and the Union 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. The Golden Plateau represents the nucleus of the city, around which the entire settlement developed over the centuries. In 1565, Iasi became the capital of Moldavia and for a short period of time, from 1859 until 1862, the capital of Romania. Iasi is among the very few cities in the Orthodox world with more than 100 churches. Its outer walls and twin towers are intricately carved in what many think of as stone lace. Paraschiva Metropolitan Cathedral and Trei Ierarhi Church, the last a curious example of Byzantine art, erected in 1635-1639 by Vasile Lupu.
The finest, however, are the 17th century St. The oldest, the Princely Saint Nicholas Church, dates from the reign of Stephen the Great (Stefan cel Mare, 1457-1504). Iasi boasts an impressive number of Orthodox churches, almost 100, most of them located in the so-called Golden Plateau (Platoul de Aur). Over the past 500 years, history, culture and religious life have molded the city's unique character. Today, Iasi is home to five universities. The city prides itself with publishing the first Romanian newspaper and establishing the first Romanian university. 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.ĭeeply rooted in history, Iasi has been the main centre of Moldavian culture since 1408. 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.