Romanian Athenaeum

From Kretzulescu Church, walk 400 m to the north towards the Revolution Square to reach the Romanian Athenaeum, one of the exceptional architectural jewels of Bucharest. Interestingly enough, it was designed by Albert Galleron, the same architect to whom we owe the creation of the beautiful CEC Bank building.

The Romanian Athenaeum is a Neoclassical circular building with a pronaos held by six columns. The impressive edifice was inaugurated in 1888, after only two years of labour. Strongly sought after by the intellectual elite of that time, its goal was to be a building for art and science; in fact, it not only hosted musical concerts but also lectures of important Romanian scientists and personalities. Nowadays, it hosts the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, named after the renowned Romanian composer who started his career here.
The interior of the building is decorated with mosaics, marble and fabulous staircase, bringing back to memory Michelangelo's style. The circular concert hall is known not only for its beauty, but also for its perfect acoustic facility and visibility from any seat. All around the auditorium is a continuous fresco, reaching 70 m of length, representing the 25 highlights of Romanian history. To admire the stunning interiors of the Romanian Athenaeum, assist one of the concerts held regularly in the concert hall or visit this inspiring heritage during the day with a guide.