Arad, one of the most important cities of Romania, lies about 30 km away from the Zarand Mountains, in Transylvania, and it is an interesting city, with several tourist attractions and historical monuments, in a region where the number of landscapes and natural wonders is amazing. Maybe not a first grade tourist spot, but Arad has enough to satisfy even the most demanding visitor. An important economic and cultural centre of Romania, it hosts every year several festivals, music and theatre performances, art exhibits and here you can also admire some wonderful architectural achievements, can visit museums and historic landmarks, can walk through the streets of the city.
What to see in Arad :
Several palaces, such as Neuman, Justice Palace, Cenad, the Palace of the National Bank, Bohus Palace or the Culture Palaces can be seen here, most of them dating from the 19th century and being a mix of architectural styles and trends. Ranging from eclectic to neoclassical, from Wiener Secession to gothic and renaissance, a splendid symphonia of colours, shapes, techniques and stories, these palaces are some of the landmarks of Arad and the city's history. But they are not the only ones, as one can find several other attractive places.
Such as : the Old Theatre, also known as Hirschl, built in 1817 as the first theatre made out of stone by Jacob Hirschl ; or the Water Tower, a structure in medieval style which was really built at the end of the 19th century, and nowadays it hosts an art gallery and a chic restaurant ; the Palace of Children, another historical monument from the 20th century, where various classes are held for children, such as music, dancing, computer or tenis classes.
In Arad you could also admire several old and new statues and monuments, such as the Statue of St Ioan de Nepomuk, the oldest, dating from 1729, the Holy Trinity (completed several years later), the Statue of Liberty or the Martyr's Cross, dating from the interwar years.
Among the places of worship the most important must be the Orthodox cathedral The Birth of St John the Baptist, built in 1862 - 1865 in a neo-baroque manner, with tall belltowers, rich decorations and splendid frescoes on the walls, a very special place for all believers. Maybe just as beautiful is the Sf Anton of Padova Cathedrala, a Catholic one, complete in 1904.
Also, the visitor must not pass the opportunity of visiting some of the museums and art galleries in Arad, for he is in for some pleasant surprises. Aside from the History, Science or Art Museum one could go the the Vasile Goldis Memorial Museum, the Delta Gallery, the Clio Gallery and many others, which might be the place to learn more about contemporary art.
