National Museum of Art of Romania

The National Museum of Art of Romania showcases the most important and the most comprehensive collection of fine art works in the country. It was set up in the former Royal Palace of Bucharest, a historical building which dates back to 1837, originally erected by order to Alexandru Ghica. The proximity to the Romanian Athenaeum enhances the tourist visibility of the museum, though, if truth be told, the museum is, regardless of its surroundings, a sight in itself not to be missed out by visitors of Bucharest.

The artistic patrimony of the museum is divided into two galleries, namely, the National Gallery and the European Art Gallery. The National Gallery exhibits works by celebrated Romanian artists, such as Theodor Aman and Nicolae Grigorescu, not to mention the extensive collection of sculptures by Constatin Brâncuşi, perhaps the most famed Romania-born artist with consistent contribution to the history of international art.

The European Art Gallery showcases works by Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, El Greco, Cezanne and Rubens, just to list the most resonant names. Briefly put, the National Museum of Art of Bucharest is, perhaps, the most rewarding stop on the sightseeing tour of the city for visitors driven by artistic interests. Note that the Art Collections Museum, the Zambaccian Museum and the Theodor Pallady Museum open their gates under the patronage of the National Museum of Art, being managed as branches of the latter.

Arcul de Triumf

A triumphal arch in the northern part of Bucharest, Romania, the Arcul de Triumf has had several iterations along Kiseleff Road since it was first hurriedly constructed out of wood in 1878 when Romania gained its independence. That first arch was erected just so that the troops could march under it on their way into the city. And then the Arcul de Triumf was rebuilt in the same site in 1922 after World War I. That second temporary structure managed to stand for about 13 years before being knocked down to make way for the current arch, which is built from a much longer-lasting material: Deva granite.

Inaugurated in September 1936, the current Arcul de Triumf stands 27 meters (85 feet) high and has a rectangular base that measures 25 x 11.5 meters. Built using plans drawn up by the architect Petre Antonescu, the Arcul de Triumf was decorated by famous Romanian sculptors, including Ion Jalea and Dimitrie Paciurea. Today, the arch stands as a monument to independence and is visited by many tourists every day. Each year, military parades are held underneath the Arcul de Triumf on December 1, which marks Romania’s National Day.

An internal staircase was built so that visitors could climb to the top of the arch and look out over the city. It also hosts a small museum that includes photos of the previous iterations. Bucharest is deceptively big, a great way to see the city and hear about the history that surrounds the likes of Arcul de Triumf is to take a bike tour. The arch is located near the King Michael I Park (formerly known as Herăstrău Park), at the intersection of Kiseleff Road and Mareșal Alexandru Averescu Blvd., bus station "Arcul de Triumf".

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