Editing Bucharest (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Romania}}

Bucharest has a growing cultural scene, in fields including the visual arts, performing arts, and nightlife. Unlike other parts of Romania, such as the Black Sea coast or [[Transylvania]], Bucharest's cultural scene has no defined style, and instead incorporates elements of Romanian and international culture.

=== Landmarks ===

Bucharest has landmark buildings and monuments. Perhaps the most prominent of these is the [[Palace of the Parliament]], built in the 1980s during the rule of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. The [[List of largest buildings in the world#Special categories|largest Parliament building]] in the world, the palace houses the Romanian Parliament (the [[Chamber of Deputies of Romania|Chamber of Deputies]], and the [[Senate of Romania|Senate]]), as well as the [[National Museum of Contemporary Art (Romania)|National Museum of Contemporary Art]]. The building boasts one of the largest convention centres in the world.

Another landmark in Bucharest is [[Arcul de Triumf]] ("The Triumphal Arch"), built in its current form in 1935 and modelled after the [[Arc de Triomphe]] in Paris. A newer landmark of the city is the [[Memorial of Rebirth]], a stylised marble pillar unveiled in 2005 to commemorate the victims of the [[Romanian Revolution]] of 1989, which overthrew Communism. The abstract monument sparked controversy when it was unveiled, being dubbed with names such as 'the olive on the toothpick' (''măslina-n scobitoare''), as many argued that it does not fit in its surroundings and believed that its choice was political.<ref>[http://www.sfin.ro/articol_1992/_memorialul_renasterii___ce_oribilitate_.html "Memorialul Renasterii", ce oribilitate!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217024722/http://www.sfin.ro/articol_1992/_memorialul_renasterii___ce_oribilitate_.html |date=17 February 2006 }} ("The Monument of Rebirth – how horrible!"), ''Săptămâna Financiară'', August 2005 {{in lang|ro}}</ref>

The [[Romanian Athenaeum]] building is considered a symbol of Romanian culture and since 2007 has been on the list of the Label of European Heritage sites. It was built between 1886 and 1888 by the architect Paul Louis Albert Galeron, through public funding.<ref>[http://nato.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=31&s=23698&arhiva=true Romanian Athenaeum awarded Label of European Heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415042903/http://nato.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=31&s=23698&arhiva=true |date=15 April 2008 }}, Romania's Permanent Delegation to NATO</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fge.org.ro/filarmonica/istoric-ateneu/|title=Istoric Ateneu|website=FGEB|access-date=1 April 2021|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127154413/https://www.fge.org.ro/filarmonica/istoric-ateneu/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[InterContinental Bucharest]] is a high-rise five-star hotel near University Square and is also a landmark of the city. The building is designed so that each room has a unique panorama of the city.<ref>[http://www.hotel-bucuresti.com/hoteluri/hotel_intercontinental-39.html Hotel Intercontinental Bucharest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312005015/http://www.hotel-bucuresti.com/hoteluri/hotel_intercontinental-39.html |date=12 March 2015 }} (" 5 star hotel "), ''Hotel-bucuresti.com'',{{in lang|ro}}</ref>

[[House of the Free Press|House of the Spark]] (''Casa Scânteii'') is a replica of the [[Lomonosov Moscow State University]]. This edifice, built in the characteristic style of the large-scale Soviet projects, was intended to be representative of the new political regime and to assert the superiority of the Communist doctrine. Construction started in 1952 and was completed in 1957, a few years after Stalin's death in 1953. Popularly known as Casa Scânteii ('House of the Spark') after the name of the official gazette of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, ''Scânteia'', it was made for the purpose of bringing together under one roof all of Bucharest's official press and publishing houses. It is the only building in Bucharest featuring the [[Hammer and Sickle]], the Red Star and other communist insignia carved into medallions adorning the façade.

Other cultural venues include the [[National Museum of Art of Romania]], [[Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History]], [[Museum of the Romanian Peasant]], [[National Museum of Romanian History|National History Museum]] and the [[National Military Museum (Romania)|Military Museum]].

<gallery class="center">
File:Arcul de triumf.jpg|The [[Arcul de Triumf|Triumphal Arch]] was inaugurated in 1936.
File:Sky Tower Bucharest - panoramio.jpg|With a price tag of $250&nbsp;million, [[Floreasca City Center]] opened in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skytower.ro/ro/despre-skytower/|title=Despre Sky Tower|work=skytower.ro|language=ro|access-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731183111/http://www.skytower.ro/ro/despre-skytower/|archive-date=31 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> 
File:Ansamblul de fântâni din Piața Unirii, București.jpg|Downtown Bucharest fountains in the [[Piața Unirii|Unirii Square]]
File:Libraria Carturesti Carusel - Interior ziua.jpg|Interior of the [[Cărturești Carusel Bookstore]]
File:Biblioteca Națională a României.jpeg|The New [[National Library of Romania]], with a price of €110 million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/va-vine-sa-credeti-biblioteca-nationala-va-arata-ca-un-mall-645707 |title=Vă vine să credeţi? Biblioteca Naţională va arăta ca un mall |date=30 September 2011 |access-date=11 May 2021 |archive-date=29 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529151221/https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/va-vine-sa-credeti-biblioteca-nationala-va-arata-ca-un-mall-645707 |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Bucuresti, Romania. Bulevardul Magheru 2017.jpg|alt=Magheru Boulevard is one of the most expensive streets in the world|[[Bulevardul Magheru|Magheru Boulevard]] is one of the most expensive streets in the world.<ref>[https://business24.ro/imobiliare/spatii-comerciale/magheru-locul-35-in-topul-celor-mai-scumpe-bulevarde-81857 Magheru - locul 35 in topul celor mai scumpe bulevarde]</ref><ref>[https://www.zfenglish.com/companies/retail-consumer/magheru-boulevard-is-world-s-46th-most-expensive-retail-location-survey-8683950 Magheru Boulevard Is World’s 46th Most Expensive Retail Location]</ref>
File:ThermeBucuresti.jpg|alt=Therme Bucharest spa is Europe's biggest urban beach|Therme Bucharest spa is Europe's biggest urban beach.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/feb/29/romania-therme-bucharest-affordable-luxury-spa-thermal-pool Steamy scenes at low prices: Bucharest’s affordable luxury spa]</ref>
</gallery>

=== Visual arts ===
[[File:The Royal Palace (AP4K1357 1PS) (29291577856).jpg|thumb|right|[[National Museum of Art of Romania]]]]
[[File:Bucuresti, Romania, Muzeul National de Istorie Naturala Grigore Antipa; B-II-m-A-18983 (Interior, detaliu 31).JPG|thumb|right|[[Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History]]]]
In terms of [[visual arts]], the city has museums featuring both classical and contemporary Romanian art, as well as selected international works. The [[National Museum of Art of Romania]] is perhaps the best-known of Bucharest museums. It is located in the royal palace and features collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, including works by sculptor [[Constantin Brâncuși]], as well as an international collection assembled by the Romanian royal family.

Other, smaller, museums contain specialised collections. The [[Zambaccian Museum]], which is situated in the former home of art collector Krikor H. Zambaccian, contains works by well-known Romanian artists and international artists such as [[Paul Cézanne]], [[Eugène Delacroix]], [[Henri Matisse]], [[Camille Pissarro]], and [[Pablo Picasso]].

The [[Gheorghe Tattarescu]] Museum contains portraits of Romanian revolutionaries in exile such as [[Gheorghe Magheru]], [[ștefan Golescu]], and [[Nicolae Bălcescu]], and allegorical compositions with revolutionary (''Romania's rebirth'', 1849) and patriotic (''The [[Danubian Principalities#United Principalities|Principalities' Unification]]'', 1857) themes. Another impressive art collection gathering important Romanian painters, can be found at the Ligia and Pompiliu Macovei residence, which is open to visitors as it is now part of the Bucharest Museum patrimony.

The [[Theodor Pallady Museum]] is situated in one of the oldest surviving merchant houses in Bucharest and includes works by Romanian painter [[Theodor Pallady]], as well as European and oriental furniture pieces. The [[Museum of Art Collections]] contains the collections of Romanian art aficionados, including Krikor Zambaccian and Theodor Pallady.

Despite the classical art galleries and museums in the city, a contemporary arts scene also exists. The [[National Museum of Contemporary Art (Romania)|National Museum of Contemporary Art]] (MNAC), situated in a wing of the [[Palace of the Parliament]], was opened in 2004 and contains Romanian and international contemporary art. The MNAC also manages the Kalinderu MediaLab, which caters to multimedia and experimental art. Private art galleries are scattered throughout the city centre.

The palace of the [[National Bank of Romania]] houses the national [[numismatic]] collection. Exhibits include banknotes, coins, documents, photographs, maps, silver and gold bullion bars, bullion coins, and dies and moulds. The building was constructed between 1884 and 1890. The thesaurus room contains notable marble decorations.

=== Performing arts ===

[[File:Bucuresti, Romania. Teatrul ODEON. Zi de vara. Biciclista. (B-II-m-B-19854).jpg|thumb|right|[[Odeon Theatre (Bucharest)|Odeon Theatre]] in June 2018]]

[[Performing arts]] are some of the strongest cultural elements of Bucharest. The most famous symphony orchestra is [[National Radio Orchestra of Romania]]. One of the most prominent buildings is the neoclassical [[Romanian Athenaeum]], which was founded in 1852, and hosts classical music concerts, the [[George Enescu Festival]], and is home to the [[George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra]].

Bucharest is home to the [[Romanian National Opera, Bucharest|Romanian National Opera]] and the [[I.L. Caragiale National Theatre]]. Another well-known theatre in Bucharest is the [[State Jewish Theater (Romania)|State Jewish Theatre]], which features plays starring world-renowned Romanian-Jewish actress [[Maia Morgenstern]]. Smaller theatres throughout the city cater to specific genres, such as the Comedy Theatre, the Nottara Theatre, the [[Bulandra Theatre]], the [[Odeon Theatre (Bucharest)|Odeon Theatre]], and the revue theatre of [[Constantin Tănase]].

=== Music and nightlife ===
[[File:Liscani Street 3.jpg|thumb|The [[Bucharest Old Town|Old Town]] is the heart of Bucharest nightlife.]]

Bucharest is home to Romania's largest recording labels, and is often the residence of Romanian musicians. Romanian rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s, such as [[IRIS (Romanian band)|Iris]] and Holograf, continue to be popular, particularly with the middle-aged, while since the beginning of the 1990s, the [[hip hop music|hip hop]]/[[rapping|rap]] scene has developed. Hip-hop bands and artists from Bucharest such as [[B.U.G. Mafia]], [[Paraziții]], and [[La Familia (rap group)|La Familia]] enjoy national and international recognition.

The pop-rock band [[Taxi (Romanian band)|Taxi]] have been gaining international respect, as has [[Spitalul de Urgență]]'s raucous updating of traditional [[Music of Romania|Romanian music]]. While many neighbourhood [[discothèque|discos]] play ''[[manele]]'', an Oriental- and Roma-influenced genre of music that is particularly popular in Bucharest's working-class districts, the city has a rich [[jazz]] and [[blues]] scene, and to an even larger extent, [[house music]]/[[trance music|trance]] and [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]/[[punk music|punk]] scenes. Bucharest's jazz profile has especially risen since 2002, with the presence of two venues, Green Hours and Art Jazz, as well as an American presence alongside established Romanians.

With no central nightlife strip, entertainment venues are dispersed throughout the city, with clusters in [[Lipscani]] and [[Regie, Bucharest|Regie]].

=== Cultural events and festivals ===

A number of cultural festivals are held in Bucharest throughout the year, but most festivals take place in June, July, and August. The National Opera organises the International Opera Festival every year in May and June, which includes ensembles and orchestras from all over the world.

The Romanian Athaeneum Society hosts the [[George Enescu Festival]] at locations throughout the city in September every two years (odd years). The Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the Village Museum organise events throughout the year, showcasing Romanian folk arts and crafts.

In the 2000s, due to the growing prominence of the Chinese community in Bucharest, Chinese cultural events took place. The first officially organised Chinese festival was the [[Chinese New Year]]'s Eve Festival of February 2005, which took place in Nichita Stănescu Park and was organised by the Bucharest City Hall.<ref>[http://www.daily-news.ro/article_detail.php?idarticle=5737 Chinese New Year's Eve celebrated in Bucharest] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219163629/http://www.daily-news.ro/article_detail.php?idarticle=5737 |date=19 February 2006 }}, ''[[Bucharest Daily News]]'', 7 February 2005</ref>

In 2005, Bucharest was the first city in Southeastern Europe to host the international [[CowParade]], which resulted in dozens of decorated cow sculptures being placed across the city.

In 2004, Bucharest imposed in the circle of important festivals in Eastern Europe with the Bucharest International Film Festival, an event widely acknowledged in Europe, having as guests of honour famous names from the world cinema: [[Andrei Konchalovsky]], [[Danis Tanović]], [[Nikita Mikhalkov]], [[Rutger Hauer]], [[Jerzy Skolimowski]], [[Jan Harlan]], [[Radu Mihăileanu]], and many others.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://b-iff.ro/poveste/ |title=Poveste |work=BIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520215804/http://b-iff.ro/poveste/ |archive-date=20 May 2014 }}</ref>

Since 2005, Bucharest has its own contemporary [[art exhibition|art biennale]], the [[Bucharest Biennale]].

<gallery class="center">
File:Ateneul Român - Vedere Frontala.jpg|[[Romanian Athenaeum]]
File:Violetta in concert. Bucharest Phylharmony.jpg|[[George Enescu Festival]]  
File:Sala Radio Mihail Jora 1.jpg|[[Sala Radio|Mihail Jora Hall]]
</gallery>

=== Traditional culture ===

[[File:Bucarest Musee national du village56.JPG|thumb|right|Traditional wooden church at the [[Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum|Village Museum]]]]
Traditional Romanian culture continues to have a major influence in arts such as theatre, film, and music. Bucharest has two internationally renowned [[ethnography|ethnographic]] museums, the [[Museum of the Romanian Peasant]] and the open-air [[Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum in Bucharest|Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum]], in [[King Michael I Park]]. It contains 272 authentic buildings and peasant farms from all over Romania.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.muzeul-satului.ro/viziteaza-muzeul |title=Vizitează muzeul |work=Muzeul Național al Satului "Dimitrie Gusti" |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031403/http://www.muzeul-satului.ro/viziteaza-muzeul |archive-date=21 May 2014 }}</ref>

The Museum of the Romanian Peasant was declared the European Museum of the Year in 1996. Patronised by the Ministry of Culture, the museum preserves and exhibits numerous collections of objects and monuments of material and spiritual culture. The Museum of the Romanian Peasant holds one of the richest collections of peasant objects in Romania, its heritage being nearly 90,000 pieces, those being divided into several collections: ceramics, costumes, textiles, wooden objects, religious objects, customs, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro/index.php?page=muzeu |title=Prezentare muzeu |work=Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220631/http://www.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro/index.php?page=muzeu |archive-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Museum of Romanian History]] is another important museum in Bucharest, containing a collection of artefacts detailing Romanian history and culture from the prehistoric times, [[Dacia]]n era, medieval times, and the modern era.

=== Religion ===

Bucharest is the seat of the Patriarch of the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]], one of the [[Eastern Orthodox]] churches in communion with the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]], and also of its subdivisions, the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja and the Archbishopric of Bucharest. Orthodox believers consider Demetrius of Basarabov to be the patron saint of the city.

The city is a centre for other Christian organizations in Romania, including the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest]], established in 1883, and the [[Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic|Romanian Greek-Catholic]] [[Romanian Catholic Eparchy of Bucharest|Eparchy of Saint Basil the Great]], founded in 2014.

Bucharest also hosts six synagogues, including the [[Templul Coral|Choral Temple of Bucharest]], the [[Great Synagogue (Bucharest)|Great Synagogue of Bucharest]] and the [[Jewish Museum (Bucharest)|Holy Union Temple]]. The latter was converted into the Museum of the History of the Romanian Jewish Community, while the Great Synagogue and the Choral Temple are both active and hold regular services.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stanciulescu|first=Anda|date=1–31 March 2014|title=La Pas Prin Sinagogile Bucureștene|url=http://www.jewishfed.ro/downloads/realitatea/RE424-425.pdf|journal=Realitatea Evreiască|access-date=27 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816075112/http://www.jewishfed.ro/downloads/realitatea/RE424-425.pdf|archive-date=16 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[Grand Mosque of Bucharest|mosque]] with a capacity for 2,000 people<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2015/06/24/turkey-to-build-mosque-in-romania-in-exchange-for-land-for-a-church |title=Turkey to build mosque in Romania in exchange for land for a church |work=Daily Sabah |author=Ebru Şengül |date=24 June 2015 |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022614/https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2015/06/24/turkey-to-build-mosque-in-romania-in-exchange-for-land-for-a-church |archive-date=2 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> was in the planning stages at 22–30 Expoziției Boulevard. The project was later abandoned due to financial problems and public protests.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://stiri.tvr.ro/exclusiv---moscheea-de-la-bucure--ti-nu-se-mai-construie--te--proiectul-a-fost-abandonat-din-motive-financiare_833417.html#view |title=Moscheea de la București nu se mai construiește. Proiectul a fost abandonat din motive financiare |work=TVR |date=12 July 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021253/http://stiri.tvr.ro/exclusiv---moscheea-de-la-bucure--ti-nu-se-mai-construie--te--proiectul-a-fost-abandonat-din-motive-financiare_833417.html#view |archive-date=4 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, there are several smaller [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shia]] mosques active in Bucharest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://evz.ro/moscheea-fundul-curtii.html|title=Moscheea din fundul curții (II). DEfiniția "musulmanului din România" convenită stabilimentul din str.Logofătul Tăutu 66|first=de|last=Arhiva|website=evz.ro|date=19 December 2017 |accessdate=4 April 2023}}</ref>

<gallery class="center">
File:Palatul Patriarhiei - panoramio.jpg|[[Palace of the Patriarchate|Palace of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate]]
File:Biserica greaca.JPG|[[Greek Church (Bucharest)|Greek Orthodox Church of Bucharest]]
File:Catedrala Sfântul Iosif din București (2023-04).jpg|[[Saint Joseph Cathedral, Bucharest|St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cathedral]]
File:Detalii de arhitectura.JPG|[[Italian Church (Bucharest)|Italian Roman Catholic Church]]
File:Biserica „Învierii" - Anglicană.jpg|[[Anglican Church (Bucharest)|Anglican Church of the Resurrection]]
</gallery>