Iasi Things to Do

The Barboi Church (or Barboi Monastery) is another religious landmark in Iasi. The current church was built in 1841 and apparently a fantastically-painted interior. Again, I say "apparently" because it too was closed for restoration when I visited. While I was able to stroll the grounds, the building interior was not open to visitors. If it's a focal point of your visit, ensure it will be open by the time you arrive!

Golia Monastery is surrounded by tall, thick walls. In fact, I almost couldn't be bothered to find the entrance! However, I walked around to Str Cuza Voda and found an entrance at a high belfry tower (which used to serve as a vantage point for city firefighters). The monastery inside dates back to the 1600s and apparently features Byzantine frescoes and elaborate entrance ways. I say "apparently" as the restoration work happening between the belfry entrance and the monastery building was so extensive that I wasn't able to go inside (yes, even after walking all the way around the wall!). It looks like it would be great to visit, but if it's the focal point of your trip to Iasi you'll want to ensure the restoration work won't impede your visit.

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Iasi's Natural History Museum is a treasure-trove of taxidermied animals. And stop. There's not much more to say (check out the seriously creepy seal in the attached photo). Oh, I could add that there's also a big model of a dinosaur. While visiting only takes about an hour, entrance is a steal at three lei. Make sure to stop by earlier in the day as they often close at 3:00 pm (and, like all the other museums, they're closed on Mondays).

I think one of the coolest places in Iasi is Parc Piata Eminescu, which is a little park located beside Piata Mihai Eminescu. As I've previously noted, Iasi proudly celebrates its literary heritage. Parc Piata Eminescu is a reminder of that: a creative, picturesque park created in memorial of one of Romania's greatest poets (in fact, Eminescu is so revered that he also appears on the 1000-lei banknotes). Designed to look like gardens of a fortified castle (well, in my opinion at least), this park was a lovely surprise on my way to the university.

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Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University) is the oldest university in Romania. It's alumni include Corneliu Codreanu, the founder of Romania's far-right fascist organization Iron Guard. The building's main hallway is known as the Hall of the Lost Footsteps, and features frescoes painted by Sabin Bălaşa in the late 1960s. The area around the university is packed with affordable cafes, though many seemed closed when I visited outside of the normal school year.

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I think it's pretty impressive that Iasi is home not only to the Museum of Old Moldavian Literature, but a second museum of literature as well- the Pogor House Literary Museum (also known as the Romanian Literature Museum). They like their books! Located in the restored home of Romanian poet and literary theorist Vasile Pogor, the museum has a number of exhibits focusing on the achievements of Pogor and other members of his Junimea literary society, as well as broader exhibits about the literature of the area throughout history. All information in the museum is in Romanian, and it is closed on Mondays.

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Occupying a small park behind the Student Culture House is Voievodes Statuary. "Voievode" used to mean "lord" or "prince" in the language of early Moldavia, and today the Voievodes Statuary is home to a number of statues depicting the most important figures of the area's history, such as Stefan ce Mare (he of a boulevard in every Romanian city) and Alexander cel Bun (he of every secondary boulevard in every Romanian city). Some of the statues are in good repair, others are marked as safety hazards, but it's still a cute little spot. If you're heading up to explore the university area you should definitely check these statues out.

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Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, Royal Saint Nicholas Church in Iasi is a quaint little church and the oldest church in the city that continues to occupy its original site (though it has been rebuilt twice). The interior is tiny, cool and peaceful, and there are a handful of benches outside where you can relax in the shade and examine the church's beautiful exterior. It's location near the Palace of Culture makes it an easy stop on your tour of the city.