| BLOODY REVOLUTION
Eastern Europe's season of fairy-tale, bloodless
revolutions ended in chaos, violence, and death when it reached
Romania in December 1989. Determined to remain in power at any cost,
Romania's unpredictable and ruthless leader Nicolae Ceausescu ordered
anti-government protests put down by force. A popular uprising in
the city of Timisoara was met with bullets. But fighting spread
to other cities. For more than a week, the country descended into
seeming anarchy, as the world followed along on television. On Christmas
day, Ceausescu and his wife Elena were executed, and the violence
stopped. A National Salvation Front led by a coalition of dissidents,
military officers, and second-tier Communist officials pronounced
Romania free.
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Timisoara has a number of museums, ancient cathedrals, monuments and parks
that are worth a visit. The surroundings of Timisoara are rich in tourist
sights. The towns and villages are each a feast for the eye. They preserved
their traditional charm and peaceful atmosphere. The local people are
pleasant, cheerful, and hard working. One should come here if one really
wants to get to know them. Getting around - Historic Timisoara is organized
like a cross, with Piata Libertatii at the hart . Brediceanu street, Piata
Libertatii, and Blvd. 16th December 1989, and Piata Unirii run south-north.
Needless to say , Piata Libertatii is Timisoara's most popular and centrally
located hangout, filled with cafes, supermarkets and beer patios. Blvd.
16th December, a pedestrian walkway that opens onto Piata Libertatii is
also a great place to grab an ice cream or a beer. Piata Unirii, 110 yards
north of Piata Libertatii is Timisoara's main meeting place, a quiet square
lined with amber, orange and blazing-red 18th century apartments. Buses
and trolleys run through Timisoara regularly, but you can easily rely
on your feet for transportation unless you're headed to or from the train
station. HUNIADES's CASTLE It was built by Carol Robert d'Anjou in 1316
and redecorated and enlarged by Iancu of Hunedoara (15th century) it is
one of the oldest fortified bastionbastions in Timisoara. Today it houses
the "Banat Museum" where you'll find a good collection of historic, archaeological
and ethnographic displays . Other exhibits include maps, paintings and
a scale model of 16th century Timisoara. Huniade's Castle is located at:
Piata Huniade Nr. 1. From the north side of Blvd. 16th December, walk
a block east. BASTION OF THE CITADEL Built in the 18th century, the bastion
of the Citadel is the modern home of the "Banat's Ethnographic Museum"
with a large collection of peasant art, costumes and hand-crafted jewelry
and tools. If you go, you should inspect the Bastion complex from the
outside. Raised by Timisoara's Turkish residents in the 1770's as a Muslim
-only meeting hall, the Bastion retains its Arabic inscriptions and stone
carvings. From hotel Continental walk two blocks north ob Hector street.
METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL Built between 1936 and 1946 by Ioan Traianescu,
Timisoara's chief Orthodox cathedral is located at the end of Blvd. 16th
December 1989. This 268 foot-tall, narrow brick church mixes Byzantine
style with Moldovian influences. The church interior accommodates 5,000
and has a tall dome at the centre. In the basement is a display of the
16th to 19th century icons ob wood and glass, beautifully preserved medieval
stained glass, as well as books and other church objects. Admission is
free, just ask one of the priests for a tour. They are more than happy
to show you around. Basement icon collection, daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
OLD TOWN HALL It is the oldest building in town (18th century) built in
the Renaissance and Baroque style, it stands on the site of a former Turkish
public bath built in 1675 according to the stone inscription written in
Arabic. Piata Libertatii Nr. 1. OPERA HOUSE AND NATIONAL THEATRE Both
set in Piata Operei, were erected in the 18th century and rebuild in the
20th century. They are richly adorned and decorated. If you enjoy opera
I suggest a night at the opera fallowed by a nice dinner at one of the
many good restaurants in that area. OLD CHIEFS COMMISSIONER's OFFICE Located
in Piata Unirii, and built in 1754 in the Renaissance and Baroque style,
this magnificent building is remarkable for its carved wooden gates set
in stone portals and its richly adorned walls. BANAT VILLAGE MUSEUM Is
located in the Green Wood Forest just outside the city. Founded in 1971
on a 43 acres, it contains 21 monuments and 30 peasant dwellings (19th
century) with all of their implement, brought from different areas of
Banat.
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