Notes from 34A: What I Saw (and Felt) in Iași, Romania

A city that doesn’t whisper its history. It sings it.

If you land in Iași expecting another European town with pretty facades and sleepy streets, you’ll be in for a surprise. This is not a city that whispers its past. It sings it. Loudly. Proudly. And from every corner.

I didn’t just see buildings in Iași. I saw resilience wrapped in neogothic towers. I saw stories hiding behind old bricks. And I felt something rare: a city with a soul.

The beating heart: Palace of Culture

The Palace of Culture isn’t just a monument. It’s a living symbol of Romanian identity. Built between 1906 and 1925, in a stunning neogothic style, it stands tall over the city like a storyteller who refuses to be forgotten.

Inside, it houses four major museums (history, art, ethnography, science & tech), and when the clock tower chimes the «Hora Unirii» every hour, it feels less like a ringtone and more like a reminder: «This place matters.»

I stood beneath it and thought: if these walls could speak, they wouldn’t just tell stories. They’d perform them.

Why Iași is more than a beautiful city

• It was once the capital of Moldavia, and one of the key places where modern Romania was born.

• It’s a university city, full of students, thinkers, poets, and quiet revolutionaries.

• It shaped Romanian culture, hosting important publications, debates, and cultural movements.

You don’t just visit Iași. You walk through pages of a living book.

What to see (besides the palace)

• Union Square (Piața Unirii): where history marched in real time.

• The Three Hierarchs Church: a masterpiece of religious architecture.

• The Metropolitan Cathedral: one of the largest Orthodox churches in Romania.

• Copou Park & Eminescu’s Linden Tree: perfect for walking and whispering poetry.

• Botanical Garden: ideal for slow mornings and clear-headed reflection.

What to eat (because culture is also on the plate)

Rumanian cuisine is comfort with depth. Here are some local must-tries:

• Sarmale: cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice.

• Mititei (Mici): small grilled sausages with bold spices.

• Mămăligă: their creamy version of polenta.

• Plăcintă: savory or sweet pastries.

• Papanași: fried doughnuts with cheese and jam (trust me, just get it).

Pair that with a local Moldovan wine and you’ve just tasted tradition.

Final thoughts: the soul of Iași

This is not just another stop on a European map. Iași is where the past shakes hands with the present.

It’s where I felt history breathe.
Where every building seemed to wink at me with a story.
And where the Palace of Culture stood like a crown worn with pride.

If you’re ever tired of cities that look nice but feel empty… Iași will change that.

Next time you find yourself in Romania, skip the obvious. Come east. And listen to the city that sings.