The Romanian Athenaeum
On one of the oldest and most representative artery which is Calea Victoriei, across the former Royal Palace, stands the Athenaeum, the celebrated symbol of the national culture, a prominent architectural and cultural heritage.
The work of French architect Albert Galleron, who also designed the National Bank of Romania, the Athenaeum was completed in 1888, financed almost entirely with money donated by the general public. With its high dome and Doric columns, the Athenaeum resembles an ancient temple.?
The lobby has a beautifully painted ceiling decorated in gold leaf, while curved balconies cascade in ringlets off a spiral staircase. A ring of pink marble columns is linked by flowing arches where elaborate brass lanterns hang like gems from a necklace. Inside the concert hall, voluptuous frescoes cover the ceiling and walls. Renowned worldwide for its outstanding acoustics, it is Bucharest’s most prestigious concert hall and home of the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic.
