University of Craiova, former Palace of Justice

Casa Nicolae Romanescu este un monument de arhitectură de interes național din municipiul Craiova, situat pe Calea Unirii, lângă Biserica Mântuleasa. Casa, ce a aparținut familiei Romanescu, poartă numele celebrului om politic Nicolae Romanescu (consilier, primar al Craiovei, deputat și senator timp de 48 de ani), cunoscut mai ales pentru înființarea parcului ce azi îi poartă numele.  Clădirea şi anexele interioare ale curţii au fost construite în mai multe etape, în cursul secolului al XIX-lea (cea dintâi mărturie despre casă datează din 1833), ajungând la configuraţia definitivă, care este şi acum, în anul 1903, datorită arhitectului I.D. Berindey şi antreprenorului C. Roschovsky.  Cu un an înaintea morții, Nicolae Romanescu a hotărât să lase orașului său casa în care a trăit și toate colecțiile sale.  În jurul anului 1935 casa a fost închiriată unei bănci particulare, încăperile de la parter devenind birouri cu pupitre, seifuri și ghișee. La etaj locuia familia directorului I. Dondoe.  În 1939, aici și-au găsit adăpost temporar refugiați polonezi (funcționari militari) și familiile lor.  După 1941, la demisolul clădirii au fost depozitate lăzi pline cu documente de arhivă, în speranța conservării până la sfârșitul războiului. La mansardă erau adăpostiți refugiați din Basarabia și din nordul Ardealului.  În iarna anilor 1943-1944, în dormitoarele improvizate la mansardă au fost găzduiți copiii de la orfelinatul Liceului Ortodox de Fete din strada Brestei.  În Casa Romanescu a mai funcționat o vreme Banca Românească, care și-a încetat activitatea după naționalizarea din 1948. Administrația comunistă a schimbat numele Căii Unirii în strada Vladimir Ilici Lenin, iar în casă se organizau întruniri politice și ședințe muncitorești.  Ulterior, în Casa Romanescu s-a instalat o școală cu profil financiar, iar din 1956 până în 1974, aici a avut sediul Casa Pionierilor.  Mai târziu, în Casa Romanescu avea să funcționeze Institutul de Cercetări Socio-Umane al Academiei Române, în paralel cu Casa Universitarilor.  Din 1974, Casa Romanescu mai este cunoscută și drept Casa Universitarilor, spațiu activităților cultural-științifice organizate de cadrele didactice de la Universitatea din Craiova.  În prezent, sălile Casei Romanescu găzduiesc evenimente ale Universității din Craiova: susțineri de teze de doctorat, ceremonii academice restrânse, lansări de carte, conferințe științifice, microexpoziții de artă, cenacluri culturale, întruniri colegiale și aniversări oficiale.  În prezent, Casa Universitarilor este închiriată unei firme având ca activitate restaurant unde Universitatea din Craiova poate să - şi organizeze în continuare activităţile enumerate mai sus. Sursa: www.monumenteoltenia.ro; www.ucv.ro  Foto: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1506713899467445&set=pb.100063565119237.-2207520000

The Palace is located in Craiova, Frații Buzeşti Street, no. 10. Here, more than 100 years ago, Gogu Vorvoreanu, a well-known landowner and attorney-at-law, laid the foundation for his future family residence. For this purpose, the boyar has used the finest materials and the most talented craftsmen, desiring with all the urgency that the new construction will successfully pass through time his family crest and legacy. "Vorvoreanu" Palace was built at the beginning of the 20th century, between 1905-1910, according to the plans of famous architect Dimitrie Maimarolu. The harmony of shapes, authentically woven in a pure Renaissance style, brings together the delicacy and the finishing touches of an interior rich in ornaments with the impetuosity of the outer forms and bas-reliefs. Between 1916 and 1918 the German Military Command functioned in this palace. Vorvoreanu Palace and many other properties and assets of the family were nationalized by the Communists. Assets in the palace were not alienated. However, the sacrifice of the forerunners did not remain unpaid, and on May 31, 1964, after repeated attempts made by the representatives of the Craiova Archdiocese to the State Council of the Socialist Republic of Romania, the ”jewel” at Fratii Buzeşti Street no. 10 passed into the property of the Church, in exchange with the House of the Bania. In the old Vorvoreni courtyard, a beautiful wooden church was displaced from Tălpăşeşti, Gorj, in 1975. The holy place, dedicated to "All Saints", is more than 260 years old and was founded by the monk Daniil of the Tismana Lavra, with the support of the Tălpăşeşti population. Today it functions as a metropolitan chapel, with a liturgical daily program. Source: www.mitropoliaolteniei.ro Photo: www.monumenteromania.ro

Glogoveanu House is an architectural monument of national interest located in Craiova, on Brestei Street, no. 12. Built by the Glogoveni boyars' family in 1802 on the foundations of an 18th-century edifice, the building hosted the Craiova City Hall and then, until 2016, the Dolj County Courthouse. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Gologoveni boyars moved to Craiova, Cerneți and Râmnicu Valcea in order to be better aware of what is happening in the political, economic, social and cultural life of society. The Glogoveanu House, bought by the Overseer (vornic) Matei in 1724, remained the property of the Glogoveni boyars for almost two centuries. The end of the century coincided with bringing the young Tudor Vladimirescu to the Glogoveni house in Craiova, to learn together with the son of boyar Ioniţă Glogoveanu, Nicolae. In 1801, the building burned, but its walls were completely restored. During the Russo-Turkish wars of 1806-1812 and 1828-1829, Glogoveanu House was transformed into a hospital for Russian soldiers. The building was affected by the earthquake of 1838, after which the edifice underwent some transformations and additions. The second part of the 19th century was sprinkled with visits by King Carol I to Craiova, during which he was housed in what was then called "Glogoveanu Palace". In 1908, Nicolae Romanescu erected the northern wing of the building. The house was sold by Nicolae Glogoveanu in September 1913 to the Craiova City Hall, together with some of furniture. In this building the City Hall functioned until 1943. Between 1943 and 2016, the Dolj County Courthouse carried out its activity in the Glogoveanu House. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo: www.monumenteoltenia.ro

The Palace of the Bank of Commerce, a monumental building that houses the Craiova City Hall, is one of the most famous buildings in the city. The Bank of Commerce was designed by architect Ion Mincu in 1906 and completed in 1916 by his student, Constantin Iotzu. The building has a rich interior decorated with stuccoes, stained glass, Venetian mosaics and wrought iron grilles. On December 12, 1897 (according to other sources in 1899), the banker and liberal politician from Craiova, Constantin Neamţu, set up in Craiova the Bank of Commerce, in the form of a family business. The banking company quickly became one of the most important and successful banks with Romanian capital in the country, opening branches in several important cities. At the time of its inauguration, the Bank of Commerce was one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and even in the country, impressing both by its exterior and its interior, richly decorated with stained glass, chandeliers and mosaics. Built on 3 levels, the building had a basement (treasury bank thesaurus, various warehouses, archive, homeowner's residence, central heating, own power plant and mechanical workshop), ground floor (a vestibule, a large hall, offices and administration offices) and an upper floor (a vestibule from which, through a gallery, one can reach the hall where various offices, the boardroom and the director's office are located). During the period 1916-1918, during the German occupation in Craiova, in the new building the German general headquarters were installed. When the Germans left Oltenia, the building was devastated, as it happened with several other occupied buildings. After 1948, several institutions were operating in the building, including the Academy of Historical Sciences, Archaeology and Ethnography, the Municipal Committee of the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) and the Municipal People's Council. After the 1977 earthquake, the building benefited from current repair works. Since 1989, the former headquarters of the Bank of Commerce is the headquarters of the City Hall and the Local Municipal Council of Craiova. In 2000, a feasibility study was carried out to consolidate the building, with the intention to request funds from the World Bank. However, the proceedings were stopped due to disputes over the ownership of the building, which is why no administration has since tried to start rehabilitation works. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo: imagoromaniae.ro; www.monumenteoltenia.ro

It is located in the northwest part of Filiaşi, in the immediate vicinity of the cemetery. There are also tourist signs that guide visitors to this monument. The mausoleum was erected between 1865 and 1868 by Dimitrie Filișanu, a great politician and philanthropist of the past, and is called the "Sistine Chapel of Oltenia". The historical ensemble consists of a mausoleum, surrounded by an enclosure wall. The construction is the work of a great Italian architect who drew inspiration in erecting the mausoleum from a French model. Inside are three massive walnut sarcophagi, richly decorated with sculptures. The remains of the Filișanu family are in the crypts below the sarcophagi, which have only a decorative purpose. On one of them is the family crest. One reason why the Filișanu Family Mausoleum deserves attention is the fact that it is reminiscent of the boyar Dimitrie Filișanu, a great politician of the past, who was very much involved in the Revolution of 1848 and the Union of the Principalities in 1859. Source: www.turismland.ro; www.impact-tour.eu Photo: audiotravelguide.ro: www.impact-tour.eu

„OLTENIA” PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - CRAIOVA, ROMANIA The “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova, a well-known institution in the Romanian musical life, has been founded in 1904 and established in 1947 by a Royal Decree. The present activity is carried out by the Symphony Orchestra (around 80 professional musicians), the Chamber Orchestra, the Academic Choir, as many chamber assemblies, too. The repertoire includes masterpieces of symphonic music, operas, oratorios, requiems, musical jewels, arrangements of famous jazz pieces, covering a large historical period, from Baroque to contemporary. The Symphony Orchestra was conducted by musical personalities, such as Alexandr Dmitriev (Russia), Kurt Adler (USA), Wolfgang Gröhs (Austria), Carmen Moral (Peru), Ivan Marinov (Bulgaria), André Nève (Belgia), Stanislav Wislocki (Polonia), Constantin Silvestri, Mihai Brediceanu, Sergiu Comissiona, Iosif Conta, Erich Bergel, Emil Simon, Horia Andreescu, Camil Marinescu and collaborated with famous soloists, like Pavel Kogan, Igor Oistrakh, Mihail Homitzer, Vladimir Viardo, Boris Gudnikov, Vladimir Orlov, Alexander Slobodianik (Russia), José Manuel Esteban (Spain), Thierry de Brunhoff (France), Weimer Stanley (USA), Marcella Crudeli, Fausto Zadra (Italy), Ion Voicu, Ştefan Ruha, Lola Bobescu, Silvia Marcovici, Radu Aldulescu, Valentin Gheorghiu, Dan Grigore, Nicolae Herlea, Ileana Cotrubaş, Viorica Cortez, Mariana Nicolesco ş. a. Recording houses like: Electrecord, Musical Company - Arad (Romania); V.D.Gallo - Doron, Lausanne (Switzerland); R.Z - Berlin (Germany); Disk Makers, Pennsauken - New Jersey (USA) produced highly appreciated CDs and LPs for “Oltenia” Philharmonic. The symphony orchestra was invited in Italy to perform at the summer concerts together with Katia Ricciarelli - the world’s famous Italian soprano - and to attend to “The International Courses for Young Conductors” from Manfredonia, Alessandria (Italy), Corsica (France), “The International Competitions for Young Soloists” (the finales with the orchestra), in Italy: “G.B. Viotti” (Varallo), “Rodolfo Lipizer” (Gorizia), “Citta di Cantu” (Como); in France: The International Festival “Les Nuits Pianistiques” (Aix-en-Provence); The Opera Festivals in Germany and Italy (Spoleto). The symphonic repertoire of the orchestra covers, among others, the integral symphonies by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner; Symphonies nos. 1, 2, 4 and 6 by Mahler; Symphonies nos. 1, 5, 8, 9 and The Chamber Symphony by Shostakovich; “La Mer”, “Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune” by C. Debussy; “Bolero” by M. Ravel; The Symphonic Poems “The Preludes”, “Orpheus”, “Tasso”, “Faust” Symphony by Liszt; The Symphonic Poems “Don Juan”, “Also sprach Zarathustra”, “Don Quixote”, “Till Eulenspiegel”, “Death and Transfiguration” by R. Strauss; “The Firebird”, “Le Sacre du printemps”, “Petrushka” by Stravinsky. The “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova organizes in 2013 the 40'th anniversary edition of the traditional International Festival “Musical Craiova”, distinguished by the concerts’ comprehensive programmes, the highest artistic quality of the assemblies and the guest-personalities, also. Press Echoes: “The Orchestra of Craiova has demonstrated to be the best one as a good balanced sound.” (Darmstäder Echo); “The orchestra's sections are homogenous; an assembly of a marvellous harmony. It's an important Romanian orchestra.” (Rhein-Neckar Zeitung); “Discipline, interest, musicality conducted to an exceptional efficiency of the orchestra.” (Erich Bergel); “The skills of this orchestra which is situated on the top-level of the best artistic assemblies from our country are remarkable.” (Eugen Sarbu); “It was a great pleasure for me to perform together with this orchestra.” (Silvia Marcovici); “Craiova it's an interesting town and this orchestra it's of a high potential.” (Lory Wallfisch); “In Craiova I had the opportunity to meet extraordinary musicians, an orchestra and a choir of the first quality.” (Bruce Polay); “I remark the whole orchestra which has offered the total energy and attention, realising a splendid interpretation.” (Vincenzo Balzani) ACADEMIC CHOIR OF "OLTENIA" PHILHARMONIC - CRAIOVA, ROMANIA The Academic Choir of “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova, one of the most valuable artistic assemblies of this genre in our country, was created in 1953. The vast repertoire sums up about 1000 of the representative compositions of our choral art like: Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic and Contemporary. Around 60 professional musicians form the the choir of the “Oltenia” Philharmonic. The activity is extended on two big chapters: a cappella and choral concerts. A cappella concerts include pieces of all epoques and creations, styles of diversity and technical difficulty specific to first class professional ensembles. The vocal-symphonic concerts include masterpieces of universal and Romanian musical literature as: passions, masses, requiems, oratories, cantatas a.o. We illustrate some of them: “Johannes-Passion”, “Matthäus-Passion” Oratorios, The Great Mass in B minor, Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio by J. S. Bach; “The Seasons”, “The Creation” Oratorios by J. Haydn; Requiem, The Coronation's Mass, The Great Mass in C minor by W. A. Mozart; Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra and Symphony No. 9 by L. v. Beethoven; Requiem and Quattro pezzi sacri by G. Verdi; “Messiah” Oratorio by G. Fr. Händel; Stabat Mater by G. Rossini; Requiem by G. Fauré; A German Requiem by J. Brahms, “Carmina Burana” by C. Orff; Mass in E-flat Major by F. Schubert; „Joan of Arc at the Stake” Oratorio by A. Honegger; Byzantine Christmas Oratorio and Byzantine Easter Oratorio by P. Constantinescu; “Elijah” and “Paulus” Oratorios by F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy; Choral Symphony „The Bells”, “Spring” Cantata and “Vespers” by S. Rachmaninoff. The “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova organizes the annual well-known International Festival “Musical Craiova”, distinguished by the concerts’ programme, the highest artistic quality of the assemblies and the guest-personalities also.

The Monument of Buzesti Brothers, work of art of the sculptor Boris Caragea, is located in the corner of the Garden of Roses or the Garden of Bania, near the Bania House, in front of the Buzeşti Brothers National College. The work of art represents Preda, Stroe and Radu Buzescu. On the statue's socket is engraved: "Preda, Stroe and Radu Buzescu, captains in the army of Michael the Brave (1593-1601). Honor and eternal gratitude to our heroes who fought fearlessly for freedom, unity and independence, laying the foundation for the construction of socialist Romania. " Source: memorielocala.aman.ro