Iasi, the city sited, like Rome, on the seven hills, is, of course, "the heart of Moldavia" region. In Iasi, there are numerous churches, monasteries and memorial houses, monuments, palaces and historic buildings.

Iasi began to develop as a town in the 15 th century, after the princes of Moldavia established their residence here. In the period between 1564 and 1859, when it was the capital of the province of Moldavia, many of the superb buildings of Iasi were constructed.

The Monastery of the Three Hierarchs (1635-1639), founded by Vasile Lupu, combines elements of Moldavian and Walacian architecture. The rich exterior decoration, sculpted in stone, makes this church unique in Romania.

The Church of St. Nicolae, built by Stephen the Great in 1491-1492, was formerly part of the princely court. It was here that the princes of Moldavia were anointed from the sixteenth century until 1859.

Other churches of Iasi: the Church of the Galata Monastery, built in 1576-1578 by Petru the Lame; the Church of the Golia Monastery, from the beginning of the 16 th century, rebuilt by Vasile Lupu; the church of the Cetatuia Monastery (1668-1672), founded by Lord Gheorghe Duca; the church of the Frumoasa Monastery (1583-1586); the Roman Catholic Cathedral (the Franciscans Church), built in 1782-1789; the Armenian - Gregorian Church (1395).

The neo-gothic edifice of the Palace of Culture, built on the site of the former princely court between 1907 and 1926 and designed by architect I.D. Bernidei, now houses a vast museum complex. The Palace of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1806) houses the Museum of Union. The Dosoftei House (1677), where a printing press once operated, is now the Museum of Printing.

The Mihail Sturdza Palace (1834-1848), now the Conservatory, the Beldiman House (1819) and the Rosetti-Rasnovanu Palace (1832-1834) the today City Hall are testimonies of the former splendor of Iasi.

Other Attractions

Iasi is an outstanding educational centre, and preserves some beautiful pieces of architecture. Almost all buildings in the old city centre were demolished during the Communist regime, with Soviet-style blocks of flats built in their stead.