Crisana & Banat - Romania and Bulgaria - page 326

What started on 15 December 1989 as a human chain of Tőkés' parishioners protecting him from arrest mush-
roomed into a full-scale anticommunist revolt on 20 December. Overconfident Ceauşescu actually left Romania
during this time for a visit to Iran, leaving his wife Elena to cope with the escalating protests.
When Ceauşescu returned to Romania a few days later, the situation was critical. Factory workers brought in by
party officials to crush the demonstrations spontaneously joined the protesters in Piaţa Operei (today's Piaţa Vict-
oriei), chanting antigovernment slogans and singing an old Romanian anthem ('Wake up, Romanians!') banned
since the communists took power in 1947. The crowd, now over 100,000 strong, overpowered and then com-
mandeered some of the tanks that had previously fired on demonstrators. Protests later ensued in Bucharest and
around the country and Ceauşescu's fate was sealed.
Learn more about the revolution and see video footage of the events at the excellent Permanent Exhibition of
the 1989 Revolution ( Click here ) .
PIAŢA LIBERTĂŢII & AROUND
Sandwiched between Piaţa Unirii and Piaţa Victoriei is a shady square that lies at the heart
of the city, Piaţa Libertăţii. There are few traditional sights here, but several interesting
old buildings and monuments.
Fronting the square, the Old Town Hall Offline map Google map (Piaţa Libertăţii 1;
closed to the public) was built in 1734 on the site of 17th-century Turkish baths. It was
here that the leader of the 1514 peasant revolt, Gheorghe Doja, was tortured before being
executed. Doja's peasant army, after an initial victory, was quickly quashed, captured and
killed.
The statue of St John of Nepomuk and the Virgin Mary Offline map Google map was
made in 1756 in Vienna and brought to Romania in memory of plague victims. The story
of hapless St John of Nepomuk, who was said to have been flung off Charles Bridge in
Prague to his death on the orders of the king for failing to reveal the confessions of the
queen, can be seen etched around the monument's base.
PIAŢA VICTORIEI & AROUND
Begging to be photographed with your widest lens is Piaţa Victoriei, a beautifully green
pedestrian mall dotted with central fountains and lined with shops and cafes. The square's
northern end is marked by the 18th-century National Theatre & Opera House ( Click here
). It was here that thousands of demonstrators gathered on 16 December 1989. A memori-
al on the front of the opera house reads: 'So you, who pass by this building, will dedicate
a thought for free Romania'. Toward the centre, there's a statue of Romulus and Remus
Offline map Google map .