Timisoara is one of the most important Romanian cities, placed in the Western part of the country and capital of the Timis Country. It is a very interesting and beautiful place, very European, and a good place for foreign tourists to start discovering Romania. A green city, with lots of parks and gardens, some old and interesting buildings, as well as new, modern ones, crossed by the River Bega, Timisoara is surely worth your time. There are also several large squares, such as the Union Square, Liberty Square, Victory Square, which make the space seem even larger. In the recent history of Romania Timisoara is famous as the city where the 1989 revolution began, which eventually led to the downfall of the Communist regime.
The best place to start your visit is the Victory Square, the center of the city, where you can admire some interesting buildings, like the Metropolitan Church, the Opera or the Theatre. The Theater in Timisoara is also special for it is the only one which actually houses three different theaters : Romanian, Hungarian and German. If you have the chance, buy a ticket and see a performance here, it will surely be one to remember. The presence of three different theaters also shows the main characteristic of the city : a melting pot of distinct cultures and ethnical groups.
You could continue your visit in the Union Square, a large space surrounded by interesting buildings, where you can also find a Catholic church, but also several restaurants, shops, bars and caffes. For those who like shopping best, the Iulius Mall is the best place to go, as the variety and richness of the offer are impressive. Also, at the Iulius Mall you may have the chance of visiting temporary art shows, mainly contemporary Romanian art.
There are quite a few museums in Timisoara, such as the Banat Museum or the Village Museum of Banat, some rather good art galleries and so on. In the past, Timisoara had the nickname of "Romanian small Vienna" and nowadays it still keeps this memory. You can also attend several festivals of art and music, concerts, various performances and the likes.
Those who preffer religious sites can find in Timisoara several churches and cathedrals, both Orthodox and Catholic, some of these being historical monuments, with rich collection of Christian art, which are worth your time.
2008-03-06
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