Discover Romania: A Cultural Gem in Europe

1. PROGETTO COMENIUS MULTILATERALE –EPEITE Ecole - Patrimoine - Esprit Initiative Touristique - Europe «This project has bee founded with support from the European Commission. This pubblication(communication) reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot bee held responsable for any use wich may be made of the information contained therein ». Made by pupils of 3 B Erica – Teacher contact : Franca Miserocchi ITSC « A.LOPERFIDO » Matera, 30 March 2012 GHEORGHE ZAMFIR: THE POWER OF LOVE

2. It is bordered to the north and east by Ukraine and Moldova, on the west by Hungary and Yugoslavia, on the south by Bulgaria. Bounded on the east by the BlackSea. Romania is administratively divided into 41 provinces called judeţ; the major cities are Bucarest, Brasov, Costanta, Craiova, Galaţi, Iasi, Oradea, Sibiu and Timishoara, and other tourist interest locations such as Baia Mare, Sinaia, Targoviste, Suceava etc. GEOGRAPHY BUCAREST BUCAREST CRAIOVA

3. SECOND VIRTUAL TRIP ROMANIA Romania does not appear among the destinations of mass tourism yet but the country offers a wide range of exciting opportunities for travellers .The reasons why you may want to visit Romania are different: a country culturally different from ours, not totally globalized, with places still unknown by mass tourism, which still retains strong rural shades. A country full of history and legends, places to visit, nice and pretty well eating places. A country of the European community with relatively low prices and beginning to be appreciated by discerning travellers. The possibility of pleasant discoveries such as local food and wine, made up of traditional dishes and more and more appreciated recognized throughout the world. Let's start to explore this corner of Europe.

4. When are you going? The best time to start is definitely in spring / summer. La Romania is situated in a temperate zone and its position on the continent determines the character of the continental climate. The territory of Romania, with an area of 238,391 sq. km., Is located in south-eastern Central Europe, its vastness causes a great variety of climates. The average percentages are slightly higher in the month of july the lowest in January. Between November and February it snows frequently in the major cities in Romania and in the mountainous areas where there are stations equipped for winter sports (Poiana-Brasov, Sinaia and Predeal). Getting there Thanks to its seven international airports used by low cost airlines, it is very easy to reach and visit this country so European and intercontinental. It is also possible also to go directly to Romania in its major cities by train or by bus. Among the various airlines we include British Airways and Tarom airlines flying from Milan and Rome to Bucharest with direct flight in 2 hours and 30 minutes . Low cost airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair and Wizz Air are definitely the cheapest.

5. USEFUL INFORMATION Useful Telephone numbers We can contact the following phone numbers if something happens to us The International Romania Dialing Code is 0040 (+40); to call from Italy to Bucarest is 004021 followed by the phone number of subscriber user. Remember that if something happens we can contact these 112 for operating the switchboard for national emergencies 961 for ambulances and emergency rooms 955 for the Police 981 for the Fire Department 972 information for international calls 951 for general information 931 for telephone information 021-2222222 for car emergency.

6. USEFUL INFORMATION LANGUAGE The official language is Rumanian, a romance language. Romania is the only state in Eastern Europe to have a dominant language of romance. And the second language, almost maternal, for the Romanians is French. In Romania, French has traditionally served as the first foreign language to be taught at schools. Romania is also a member of the Francophonie International Organization and in 2006 Bucharest has hosted the biennial conference. In addition to French, the most widely spoken international languages are English, German and Italian, but in Transylvania, are widespread Hungarian and German, languages correctly spoken and protected. Time Zone difference Remember that the Time zone is different compared to the Italian one, in fact is + 1 hour ahead of Italy. Documents Identity Card or Passport. Visa is not necessary for UE citizens.

7. CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE The Rumanian currency, the LEU (RON), corresponds to 0.24 euros (1 € = 40,828 RON). Bancomat/ Credit Cards / Travelers' Checks and ATM machines are available at all banks and airports and at major supermarkets and shopping centers. However it’s hard to find them in villages or in areas far from tourist sites. Therefore, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express) are widely accepted in hotels, large restaurants and at most shops. To get used to the local currency which has different characteristics than the euro, let’s start to know the different cuts.

8. COINS: 1 ban (Leu centesimal division) / 5 bani / 10 bani / 50 bani BANKNOTES: 1 leu/5 lei/10 lei/50 lei/100 lei/200 lei/500 lei Euro value, against Rumanian currency is 1 € = 4,2 lei ROMANIAN LEU(RON), it corresponds to 0,24 euro (1 € = 40.828 RON)

9. Places not to be missed in the country Capital: What to see We recommend Bucharest as start a of your trip in Romania: a city waiting to be discovered. The communist period has left an indelible mark on the face of the capital. After that, a period of modernization has begun transforming the city into a sparkling atmosphere of nightclubs, cafes, restaurants, museums, parks and gardens. Bucharest is flourishing and evolving rapidly, mindful of its ancient history, but also projected towards the future with undeniable liveliness.

10. CAPITAL: WHAT TO SEE A sightseeing tour of Bucharest will allow us to appreciate the palace willed by Ceausescu, megalomaniac ex-dictator, like the House of the People and the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, the Cotroceni Palace, the Revolution Square with its beautiful Roman Atheneum and the Royal Palace, the Kiseleff avenue with the Arch of Triumph, Victory avenue animated by casinos, shops and de luxe restaurants, etc. On several occasions the artist Daniel Gontz has had the idea to add some color to all the fountains of the city center (Unirii Square and University Square) ... yellow, pink, blue, mauve .... the effect? A lot of color and many people who like taking pictures, but unfortunately colors are destined to disappear in about ten days because food coloring were used.

11. A sightseeing tour of Bucharest will allow us to appreciate the palace willed by Ceausescu, megalomaniac ex-dictator, like House of the People and the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, the Cotroceni Palace, the Revolution Square with its beautiful Roman Atheneum and the Royal Palace, the Kiseleff avenue with the Arch of Triumph, Victory avenue animated by casinos, shops and de luxe restaurants, etc.

12. ...What can we say about Hanul Lui Manuc , the oldest hotel in Bucharest, a beautiful building of the early nineteenth century renowned for the quality of reception and today finely restored. It’s worth a visit to the National Museum of Art, which in addition to collections of Italian and Dutch art holds interesting Romanian artists’ works, including the sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi. Very interesting and unique is also the Village Museum, with hundreds of traditional buildings and exhibition of objects related to rural life in Romania, the green Park Herastrau, one of the many green areas in Bucharest. From here you can enjoy the view of the city away from traffic. Many rowing boats dot the lake in the park, there are wild young boys, loving couples, families … We decide to rent one, too! Bucharest seen from the water has a charm even different, very special!

13. THE WALLACHIA But we, as curious travelers who love unusual and lesser known places, we want you to know, Wallachia. An unknown region by mass tourism but that deserves a careful look for the beauty of natural landscapes, historical and architectural heritage with a large number of tourist sites, especially monasteries and churches. Among these we remember the ancient monasteries of Cozia, Horezu, UNESCO heritage, a Dintr-lemn and Tismana, and the castles of Peles, some of whose rooms have been decorated by Gustav Klimt, a friend of Queen Elizabeth and Pelisor decorated with Viennese furniture and Tiffany and Laliques vases . Wallachia in the south of Romania, known as the "breadbasket of Europe" takes up Oltenia, Muntenia and Dobrogea.

14. The Danube River that marks the border with Bulgaria will reveal to those who love nature his Delta secrets, slipping through a maze of creeks, meandering canals and reed beds which will be a unique experience in your life. Do not forget to bring your camera! For mountain lovers Wallachia includes several natural parks on the Carpathian mountains, that are the ideal for hiking. For sea lovers, beaches bathed by the Black Sea are perfect for summer holidays in hotels.

15. THE OLTENIA The Oltenia, which takes its name from the Olt river , one of the largest rivers in Romania, is a region of great culture, where local traditions are still alive and felt but at the same time they have been enriched by those of neighboring peoples. The Oltenia boasts ancient cities, with medieval palaces and museums of great historical interest.Tourists interested in grasping the truest aspects of Romania, where reigns a concentrate of natural diversity and heritage, an original character and the charm of the past, must venture inside and make a stop in Craiova the regional capital, for discovering country scenes, costumes, small villages, orthodox churches, which are a natural framework for Romania renewing itself. Endowed with a strong sense of hospitality, the residents, while maintaining their traditions, a strong sense of belonging to the territory, despite the sad historical events of the past, have managed to keep the smile on their face welcoming the tourist traveler.

16. CRAIOVA A tourist interested to get the true aspects of Oltenia, must leave and take a break in Craiova, the capital of the region. Here, he can discover rural scenes, traditional costumes, little villages, orthodox churches that form a picture of Romania with a set of natural and patrimonial diversity, an original character and the charm of its historical past. People who want to preserve their traditions and the strong sense of belonging to the territory have kept the smile on their lips which is manifested in a tourist welcome, despite the unpleasant historical events of the past. A city rich of life and nice places to enjoy, one of the most important of Romania with a strong cultural centre. Sure, sportsmen that love football know it thanks to its football team “UNIVERSITATE A CRAIOVA” wich since 1921 has formed great footballers playing all over the world. A rich city of monuments and places with historical interest, which present decorative elements.

17. CRAIOVA Hotel de ville A city rich of culture, the first college of Craiova was founded in 1759 by Constantin Obedeanu with the name of Şcoala Naţională de Limba Română, second college of Romania after that one of Bucharest. A leading and prestigious university whith all the most supply importantwhich also a high standard level of college education. The most important colleges have a campus and some of these institutions have historical traditions, a recognition at the national level, especially for bringing excellent results in national and international competitions. A University of excellence in wich research and culture are its top priorities . Makes for their invaluable contribution they give to the central theme of education.

18. The Park Nicolae Romanescu The Park Nicolae Romanescu introduces suggestive and attractive characteristics for the ample opened spaces that allow to actually stretch the sight to the lake and to a medieval castle whose very beautiful ruins have been restructured enriching the city of a new tourist site. The park is besides endowed with an amphitheater for shows, different restaurants, a racecourse and a Zoo that entertains every kind of animals, bucks, bears, peacocks. And also in winter, during the cold but sunny days, the lake becomes animated of people that skate on its frozen shores, a footstep of natural ice near which, on the dock, a small restaurant allows the visitors to fully enjoy some nature, with its variety of colors, tasting the delicious specialties of the place.

19. Prefettura CRAIOVA Craiova is a city full of palaces and old buildings, including churches. A unique beauty of The Church Cosuna Monastery dating from the 15 th century for example, is the oldest building, many others constitute the testimony Rumanians deep of faith. How can we forget the Madona Dudu Church, built between 1750 and 1756, renovated in 1844, after being destroyed by an earthquake in 1831, and renowned for its wall paintings created by the famous Romanian painter Gheorghe Tattarescu … At the end of 17th century and the early 18th century, the architecture of Craiova has undergone a remarkable transformation with the creation of the Brancovenesti style: a combination of traditional Romanian and Venetian art enriched by Byzantine elements.Some churches still show Brancovenesti style elements, including those of Saint Ilie church, built in 1720 with the support of the leading merchants of the city that made a real race to make it more beautiful Eglise Madona Dudu Eglise Saint Nicodem

20. CRAIOVA The whole center of the city is today, super renovated by recent changes, among wich along the the main street, two great musical fountains. One of the two is a splendor almost in the world with its amazing shoot jets of water moving high up in the air in a multicoloured game of water and sounds working every evening at 21.00pm to 22.00 pm.

21. To know better from near the city one fundamental stopover is represented by the Museum of art placed in the building of the ancient noble Jean Mihaile built among the 1899-1907 following the project of the architect French Paul Gottereau. The building is a true jewel of the slow Baroque, the wealth of the patrimony, the elegant scenery given by the Venetian mirrors, the candelabra of crystal of Murano, the staircases in marble of Carrara, the walls with tapestries of silk of Lione, but mostly the particular way with which the objects are exposed, capture the attention of the visitors. Teatro Marin Sorescu National

22. CRAIOVA MUSEO D’ARTE Originally the building was a picture- gallery which became later in 1954 a museum of art. The museum is separated in three sectors: - the gallery of European art - the gallery of Rumanian art - the room of Brancusi. But who was this sculptor of which all Romania is so fierce and whose works have illegally been exported to USA? In his works it is evident the taste for the abstraction, for the search of the form-type, of the form parent that had improved during his stay in Paris in contact with Rodin, with Modigliani, Satie and Duchamp; they bring him to create a series of sculptures that testify his interest for the primitivism and which we need to remember: they represent the main touristic attractions of the TÂRGU JIUtown THAT WE’RE GOING TO VISIT.!!!

23. The town of Targu Jiu is a must for tourist and its park is the place where three of the most important worrks by the most well known Rumanian sculptor Brancusi are located in Viale degli eroi: • The door of the kiss (Poarta Sarutului), enraved in the porous stone and on the sides of every column the symbol of the kiss finds itself again formed by two halves of a circle, characteristic of the job of Brâncusi. • The door of the kiss introduces him as an arc of triumph, that symbolizes the triumph of life over deat • The column without end built in rolled cast iron, more than 30 • meters tall itrises as a pillar without end • that unites the earth to the sky. • - The cafeteria of the silence (Masa Tacerii), • composed by a circular table surrounded by • 12 seats to form an hourglass. Târgu Jiu

24. Nightlife Craiova is one the most active and bustling center throughout the county of Dolj, comparable to where the nightlife is hot nightlife, attracting countless people with its many points of interest. In the evening , let’shave a little relax and good time together: let’swatch sport programs at televisions all togheter in the street . You can then choose from a wide variety of bars, one of the most popular bars among young people is “Da Vinci” Bar, located near the university and very friendly atmosphere where you can find a good coffee and good Italian knows it is difficult to give up coffee for tea sweet with a delicious treat that will make your day . And if you are in town from Thursday to Saturday, remember to visit clubs where you can dance with the prettiest girls in the city until dawn.One of the most spectacular places in Club Krypton Craiova is a point of reference for the local nightlife

25. The new interior design was created thinking about the future with flowing lines, minimalist furnishings and other similar details. The place is very appreciated by all the youth of the city in search of good music, trends in music and dance from young people. Other famous clubs in Craiova is also the Club Antik Medieval Club Club Helin Flame Club and others When you feel like eating a pizza prepared using the best traditional Italian recipes and only the freshest ingredients, you should choose La Maschera Pizzeria where you can organize a party to Italian or order, if you do not want to leave home a pizza by telephone and will be delivered at home in the shortest time. For an excellent meal in a very refined “milieu” we will suggest you the “Chez nous restaurant”. Chez nous restaurant

26. If our vacation allows us to stop to Craiova for some days we can take a walk of 100Km to reach the Monastery of Horezu, the greatest monastic installation in Valacchia, founded in 1690 by the prince Costantino Brancoveanu and the church of the monastery Dintr-unlemn, built by the trunk of a solo tree. The place of cult results to be exciting indeed, it seems to be projected in the past. Silence, calm and simplicity make this place one fundamental stopover of the tour of Romania. IL MONASTERO DI HOREZU

27. …“LA REVEDERE” Romania During the next trip we’re going to know another region, the Bucovina! and many other unique aspects of which we have not talked about yet: the cuisine, music, traditions and so many famous people that we invite you to discover in music... George Enescu, with his ROMANIAN RHAPSODIE and as for Cinema... MAIA Morgestern, THE PASSION the Passion, which was shot in our region: Basilicata.……