The Philharmonic of Craiova

     The “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova, a well-known institution in the Romanian musical life, has been founded in 1904 and established in 1947 by a royal decree. The present activity is carried out by the Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, the Academic Choir as many chamber assemblies too.

      Around 80 professional musicians form the symphony orchestra. The repertoire includes masterpieces of symphonic music, operas, oratorios, requiems, musical jewels, arrangements of famous jazz pieces, covering a large historical period, from baroque to contemporary.

 

 

You can find the performing schedule here 

 

 

The National Theater of Craiova

Presentation:

National Theater of Craiova is a public cultural institution financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. After the Revolution of 1989, the theater was named after the writer Marin Sorescu. The current theater building in Craiova, a true symbol of the city, creation of architect Alexander Iotzu, includes two performance halls totaling 820 seats and a multifunctional foyer.


The esplanade and the park of the National Theater are good places to relax. In the park there is also an  alley of celebrities with prominent figures during years for the city.
The employing, in 1956, at the National Theater of Craiova, of an entire class of actors (George Cozorici, Amza Pellea, Silvia Popovici, Constantin Rauţchi, Victor Rebengiuc, Dumitru Rucăreanu, Sanda Toma), together with their professor, Vlad Mugur, marked a very important moment. These actors would, years later, become the Golden generation of the Romanian theater.
Starting with 1989, the acting staff start their co-operation with the director Silviu Purcarete, and since then the performances staged in Craiova have become world wide known. During the latest theatrical seaons, the international contacts of The National Theater of Craiova were resumed, by its tours to Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, Turkey and Hungary.
The National Theater of Craiova, is the first theater from southeastern Europe that became a member of the European Theater Convention. The international media noticed the artistic virtues of the National Theater, not hesitating to compare the Romanian company to Brecht`s "Berliner Ensemble" and to the "Royal Shakespeare Company" from the period of Peter Brooks.

Location:

The National Theatre "Marin Sorescu" is situated near the University of Craiova, on Alexandru Ioan Cuza street, no. 11

The Musical Fountain

The musical fountain stands out though, being a unique piece of architecture in the country, gathering together about 2,000 visitors from Craiova, their home city, and from the neighbouring towns every night and it is open to public all seasons except winter.

If you like to take a relaxing walk downtown in the evening, you will find an amazing fountain ready to delight you, tourist or native, with its music, colors and water movements very well mixed together.




The Musical Fountain in Craiova, opened on the 3rd of June, 2007, is a unique construction in Romania and was inspired by the one in Barcelona.

Location:

The musical fountain is situated in the center of the city, being part of Michael The Brave's Market in front of the Statue, on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street.

There is a live camera that is focused on the musical fountain: CLICK HERE

City Hall

The City Hall of Craiova, former Bank of Commerce, was designed by architect Ion Mincu and was finished in 1916. The building has a rich interior decorated with stucco, Venetian mosaics and wrought iron grill.

This building, declared historic monument, was built between 1906-1916, after the plans of architect Ion Mincu, the creator of modern architectural romanian school. After his death in 1912, the construction was completed by his student, the architect C. Iotzu. At the moment of it's inauguration the actual City Hall was one of the most beautiful buildings in Romania, impressive on the outside and also on the inside.  

Location:

The City Hall is located on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street, near The County Hall(on the west side) and The White House(on the est side), righit in front of English Park

The University of Craiova

 

Craiova is an important university center, which gladly accepts foreign students.
On the left side there is the logo of the university.








The University of Craiova functions in the former Justice Palace, designed in 1890 by architect Ion Socolescu in neo-classical style.


 
The University of Craiova was founded in 1947 and it is one of the most important state institutions of high education from Romania. In 1968 the building was taken over by the Ministry of Education and ceded to the University of Craiova.
The main mission of the University of Craiova is to create a high level framework and to promote teaching and research activities, in order to contribute to the regional (South-West Oltenia region), national and international development. At present, there are 17 faculties in the University of Craiova, offering education and training conditions to more than 30,000 students for 3 stages of academic studies (BA, MA, Ph.D) in 131 research fields.

The international co-operation represents another important field of action, being settled more than 70 collaboration agreements with various universities all over the world and the representation in various international associations is continuously increasing.

Location:

The University of Craiova is situated on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street no.13, corner of  Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street and Aries Street

In the patrimony of  the University of Craiova are two others historical building the Faculty of Mechanics and The Faculty of Agronomy have the headquarter.

Faculty of Agronomy:  

The Faculty of Agriculture is the oldest institution of higher education in Craiova, continuing its activity since the foundation of the Agronomic Institute in 1947. Since 1966 to present the Agronomic Institute continued its activity within the University of Craiova.

 

 

 

 

Location:

The Faculty of Agronomy is located on Libertatii Street, no.19, Craiova.

Faculty of Mechanics: 

 In 1977, through the act of State Council was founded the Faculty of Mechanics Craiova.

Location:

The Faculty of Mechanics is located on Calea Bucuresti Street,  no.107, Craiova.

Alexandru Ioan Cuza's Statue

Presentation:

 Alexandru Ioan Cuza's Statue was executed in 1912 by the italian sculptor Raffaello Romanelli. The sculptor poured in bronze 2 statues of the ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza(1859-1866) one for Iasi and one for Craiova.
Located in 1935 in front of the Minerva hotel, was launched in 1939 and after an year, was moved in the city center right in front of the actual City Hall. 
On the pedestal, on both sides, there are engraved texts with the description of the actions during Alexandru Ioan Cuza's reign.

Location:

The statue is located on the north side of English Park, in front of the City Hall on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street, Craiova.

English Park

Presentation:

English Park in Craiova, a real oasis in the city center was set up in the interwar period. It was part of a project in that was built also the White House, the first block of flats of Craiova. English Park is an English style garden, the work of architect Constantin Iotzu. Here there is a beautiful fountain and rounds of flowers that delight you.
Tourists visiting the park has the opportunity to admire the White House, built in the interwar period, with chic shops on the ground floor, the former Bank of Discount, and St. Elias church, historical monument, built in 1720 by family Otetelesanu.

Location: 

English Park is situated in the center of the city on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street, next to Mayor Hall and County Hall

Michael the Brave's Statue

Presentation:

 Michael the Brave's Statue ( Statuia lui Mihai Viteazul ): In the time of Michael the Brave, Craiova witnessed a strong flowering, contemporary sources presenting the city as a major political and military center. Craiova was in the Middle Ages a center with a strategically important military role, beeing a place of grouping or regrouping of military.  
The idea of a statue of the great leader in Craiova, which is linked to our city and the fact that the governor held before the ban ruler, dates from the early 20th century.


 In 1913 a committee proposed to raise a monument of Michael the Brave in Craiova. In 1927, the organization "Friends of Science" proposed Union Square in Bucharest as location. In 1933 they addressed the City Hall asking them to move the statue of Michael the Brave in Craiova, if in Bucharest will rise a higher one.
The sculptor D. Pavelescu-Dimo prepared a model to achieve a very beautiful monument dedicated to the great ruler, but which did not materialize. Unfortunately, Craiova had to wait many years to see the actual statue placed on the site.

Location:     

Michael the Brave's Staue is situated in the center of the city on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street in the back of the musical fountaine

 

  

Michael the Brave's Market

Presentation:

Michael the Brave's Market ( Piata Mihai Viteazul ): This is the place where all kind of events and performances are hold: starting from spontaneous activities to music shows and art expos or skating area in the winter and musical fountain performances in the summer.

 


Lots of people just come here to relax in the park, to do some shopping or just going out at one of the many terraces and pubs after a hard day of work.

Location:  

Michael the Brave's Market is situated in the city center on Alexandru Ioan Cuza Street, near the County Hall