We begin a weekly series of albums featuring interesting places to see in several European capital cities. We start with Bucharest, where travelers can find landmarks of various historic times, from the inter-war period when the city was nicknamed "Little Paris", to the communist age, when architecture took on a rather Orwellian nature. Here we go.

 



1. The Parliament Palace
It is the second largest building in the world, after The Pentagon. It is as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside. An entire neighborhood was demolished to make place for the huge piece of 80's architecture. It's intended name was People's House and the name stuck, although it is now officially called the Parliament House.
 




2. Unirii Boulevard
It links the People's House to Unirii Square. Also built in the 80's, just like the buildings lining it, the boulevard was meant to be former president Nicolae Ceausescu's own replica of Paris' Champs Elysee.
 




3. Old Town Area.
Recently renovated, it is the heart of social and night life in Bucharest. Food, drinks, a few clubs and a lot of people, don't miss it.
 




4. The Military Club
It was built in 1912 on the site of the former Sarindar Monastery (the name was then given to the fountain in front of the building). This neoclassic masterpiece, designed by Romanian architect Dimitrie Maimaroiu, was build to host the social, cultural and educational gatherings of the Romanian army. It is where Grand Balls and brass concerts take place on a regular basis.
 




5. National Museum of Art of Romania
A good place to see works by international masters like Jan van Eyck, Jan Brueghel the Elder, El Greco, Tintoretto, Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt, in addition to the best of Romanian art over the past several hundred years.



 

6.The Revolution Square
It is where former president Nicolae Ceausesc delivered his last speech in 1989, before the events that led to the fall of his regime began in Bucharest, on the same day, December 22. The square is lined by landmark buildings such as the former communist government house, the Central University Library, the Athenaeum concert hall, the Royal Palace.


 


7.CEC Palace
It was built in the last three years of the 19th century and remains a notable architectural masterpiece to the present day.



 

8. Communist architecture for the masses
Some might find it interesting to see how the massive reconstruction of Bucharest in the 80's led to the creation of whole neighborhoods packed with apartment blocks. Industrialization meant that tens of thousand of people were needed for the new factories, so housing was also needed for them. Here's the fast, practical solution.