Copyright: Luchian Comsa
Muzeul
Național de Artă Contemporană (National Museum of
Contemporany Art, or MNAC)
Since its opening
in 2004, MNAC has played an active role
in Bucharest’s arts scene.
The decision to house the gallery in
Ceaușescu’s
People’s Palace was initially controversial, but the four-level facility with
exterior glass lifts has proved to be a modern and remarkable space. The venue
showcases multimedia rat such as video installations, digital and interactive
exhibits. Taking a prompt from the
building in which it is housed, the museum also tackles the Communist legacy
from the time to time.
An open-air café on the top floor is a good place to
finish a visit.
People’s
Palace. Strada Izor 2-4, wing E4 (entrance from Calea 13 Septembrie).
Open:
10 am-6pm Closed: Mon & Tue.
Admission
charge. Bus: 385
Muzeul
Național de Artă al României (National Art Museum)
Housed in the Royal
Palace, former home of the prince under whom Romania’s
principalities were first united, the National Art Museum (for some reason never referred to as a gallery)
contains Romania’s premier collection. The building’s three floors each feature
one permanent exhibition.
The medieval art collection has a predominantly
religious theme. Many of the pieces were salvaged from churches around the
country and include an impressive 14th-century fresco of the Last
Supper. The second-floor modern Romanian art display contains work by all the
local masters, the most famous of whom is sculptor Constantin Brâncuși.
European paintings and sculptures also get a floor. A separate wing is home to
changing displays by contemporany European artists. The art works are
accompaniend by informative captions in English. The gallery also hosts some
evening events.
Calea Victoriei 49-53 Tel:
(021) 313 3030
Open:
May-Sept daily 11 am- 7 pm, Oct-Apr daily 10 ma- 6 pm
Closed:
Mon &Tue.
Admission
charge. Metro: Piața Română
Muzeul Satului (Vilage Museum)
The superlative
Village Museum is a microcosm of Romania architecture, and as such ideal for
anyone who wants to get an impression of the whole country without venturing
outside Bucharest. The enterely outdoor museum covers 15ha (37 acres) and
consists of over 60 original buildings transported from their former locations.
Visitors walk
around and peer into 18th- and 19th-century houses, churches, mills nad
farmsteads from all over Romania; a rustic signpost
tells you which region is represented where.
Some of the buildings have audio information,
including in English, available at the touch of a button. There is a
well-stocked gift shop, and market stalls peddling traditional wares can
sometimes be found outside.
Șoseaua
Kiseleff 28-30. Tel: (021) 317 9068
Open:
Tue-Sun 9am-7pm, Mon 9am-5pm
Admission
charge, except for visitors with disabilities
Metro:
Piața Victoriei
Muzeul Țăranului Român (Peasant Museum)
One of the
highest-rated museums in the capital and indeed the country, the multifarious
exhibits in the Peasant Museum paint a vivid history of Romanian daily life and
sutoms over the last few centuries. Textiles and costumes, pots, carving, icons
and delicately painted eggs are a few if the items on display, and if anything
takes your fancy you can usually find a version of it in the museum shop. The
basement houses a fascinating and sinister collection of Communist memorabilia-
the museum’s previous incarnation was as the Communist Party
museum-including a portrait of Joseph Stalin and two of Ceaușescu.
Șoseaua Kiseleff 3 Tel:
(021) 317 9660
Open:
10am-6pm
Closed:
Mon.
Admission
charge. Metro: Piața Victoriei
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