During my recent trip (with Mrs. Perez) to Romania to attend my film screening at the ClujShorts International Short Film Festival, I stayed in the colorful city of Cluj-Napoca (check out the beautiful photographs HERE) and we also took a driving tour of several cities from Cluj to Bucharest (where our flight back to Miami awaited us). Based on several positive reviews on Tripadvisor, we booked the services of Emanuel Enache of yourguideintransylvania.com. Over the course of two days, we drove to Sibiu, Biertan, Sighișoara and Bran. Emanuel was terrific; passionate and knowledgeable about the region and during our two days, we got along like old friends. Highly recommended should you have the need for a tourguide to visit the breathtaking region of Transylvania.
Our first stop was the city of Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German), one of the most important cultural centres of Romania and designated the European Capital of Culture for the year 2007. Built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons, Sibiu is home to the first hospital in Romania (1292), the first pharmacy (1494) and the oldest museum in Romania, the Brukenthal Museum, opened in 1817.
Now, as most of you know, I never travel without my camera (in this case, my Lumix GH4) and despite a mostly cloudy day with the ever-present threat of rain, I managed to squeeze off several photographs of this breathtaking city – enjoy…
Upon our arrival at Sibiu, we entered the beautiful Big Square (Piața Mare) where we encountered the Town Hall which was built in 1906 in the shape of a horseshoe. Originally built for the Agricultural Credit Bank it also was the headquarters of the Savings and Loans bank.
Mrs. Perez and I gracing the Big Square.
Across from the Town Hall was the Brukenthal Museum (Muzeul Brukenthal), founded in 1790 by Samuel Brukenthal, the governor of the province. The museum opened to the public in 1817 and is the oldest museum in Romania and one of the first museums in Europe.
The Music Room, Brukenthal Museum
Inside the Brukenthal Museum…
The beautiful back courtyard of the museum leads to the Brukenthal Library, which houses over 250,000 rare books and manuscripts.
Rooftops of the buildings that line the Big Square look eerily like a set of eyes looking out into the square…
In the Square, young dancers celebrating International Roma Day (officially April 8th) and Romani culture. The Romani people (not to be confused with Romanians) are a traditionally itinerant ethnic group living mostly in Europe and the Americas, who originate from the northwestern regions of India.
Pigeons don’t go hungry on the Big Square…
Leaving the Big Square, we came to The Bridge of Lies (Liegende Brücke), built in 1859 by Fredericus Hutte, which was the first wrought iron bridge in Romania. Legend has it that the name derived from the merchants’ fiery disputes which flared up around it and the passionate but transitory vows of young lovers who often met here.
Images of Sibiu’s colorful Old Town…
Stairway from Piaţa Aurarilor (Goldsmith’s Square) to Piaţa Mică (Little Square)
Outside of Sibiu’s Big Square, we came across the Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary, which was built in the 14th century and for three centuries served as a burial place for the mayors, earls and other personalities from Sibiu. Outside the church is a bronze statue of Bishop Georg Daniel Teutsch by German sculptor Adolf von Donndorf. Teutsch (1817-1893) was a famous historian and bishop of Transylvania. More about this amazing church in tomorrow’s post. Ya’ll come back now! Ya hear?
Hope you enjoyed the photopgraphs – check out my other photosets from my trip to Romania by clicking any of the images below…
