Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
PIAŢA UNIRII TO PIAŢA PALATUL CULTURII
Piaţa Unirii (Union Sq) is a convenient landmark, filled with heritage buildings (including
some of the upscale hotels).
Natural History Museum
( 0232-201 339; B-dul Independenţei 16; admission 4 lei; 9am-3pm Tue, Thu & Sat,
9am-4pm Wed, Fri & Sun)
The museum has over 300,000 exhibits, with a focus on Mol-
davia's endemic flora and fauna.
MUSEUM
St Spiridon's Monastery
( 0744-965 588; B-dul Independenţei 33)
One block northeast of the square, this mon-
astery contains the headless body of Grigore Ghica III, killed in 1777 for opposing the
Turks. The present structure dates from 1807, after an 1802 earthquake damaged
everything but the original steeple tower (1786). Interestingly, some church inscriptions
were written in Romanian - but with Cyrillic letters.
MONASTERY
CHURCH
Moldavian Metropolitan Cathedral
(Mitropolia Moldovei; B-dul Ştefan cel Mare)
This cavernous cathedral, built between
1833 and 1839, was designed by architect Alexandru Orascu and decorated by painter
Gheorghe Tattarescu. Since 1889, when the cathedral claimed the relics of Moldavia's pat-
ron saint, St Paraschiva, from the Church of the Three Hierarchs, the faithful have flocked
here annually to see them displayed in mid-October.
Church of the Three Hierarchs
(Biserica Sfinţilor Trei Ierarhi; B-dul Ştefan cel Mare; 9.30am-noon & 1-5.30pm)
Built by Prince Vasile Lupu between 1637 and 1639, and restored between 1882 and
1904, this is one of Iaşi's most beautiful churches. Its exterior stone pattern-work is ex-
quisite and reveals Turkish, Georgian and Armenian influences. It also contains the
CHURCH
