Have you ever asked yourselves how do the foreign Ambassadors see the Capital of Romania? Where do they like to take the friends visiting them? Or what places in Bucharest fascinate them? “Ordinea Zilei” has challenged the foreign Ambassadors to look at the city with the eyes of the tourist arrived here, a tourist desirous to visit as many places as possible.
And thus, we have discovered the image of a Bucharest of diversity, a city in which there are infinitely many places expecting to be found. But also, a city that should bet more on its strengths in order to position itself higher at the top of the touristic destinations.
Bucharest’s Business Card
His Excellency Sergey Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Romania was one of the high-rank diplomates accredited in the Capital of Romania who answered affirmatively to the challenges launched by “Ordinea Zilei.”
From the portrait that he made to Bucharest, it resulted that it is a city of contrasts, “a city in which you can find both small historical neighborhoods, dating back to the 19th century – the beginning of the 20th century, and that have not been much affected by the reconstructions in the subsequent periods, and new neighborhoods, constructed relatively recently, when the Capital of Romania too, against the backdrop of the economic growth of the whole country, demonstrates its new image. This contrast represents one of the main business cards of the Capital of Romania, a fact that immediately draws the eyes of the foreigners and guests visiting Bucharest. In equal measure, in many cases it can be noticed a new synergy of the way the historical buildings can combine perfectly with the new buildings.”
“The combination of architectural styles tackled by the architects of the buildings and streets in Bucharest in various periods, including depending on the political, cultural or economic situation, affords the impression that here you can find a little of the charm of Paris, the influence of Vienna and Berlin, you can feel the grandeur of the architecture of the Socialist regime and of Socialist modernism, and at the same time the Balkan influence can be felt, but also the undeniable genuineness of the elements of the ‘Brâncovenesc’ Architectural style” – His Excellency Mr. Sergey Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Romania.
Three Recommendations Made by the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia
I asked him to indicate to us three of the most beautiful places in Bucharest, and the answer came immediately: Park King Michael I of Romania (former Herăstrău). “It is the place affording you a harmonious sentiment of closeness to nature in the heart of the city, in which you can take strolls with your family, and the diverse vegetation and the lake can help you to take your mind off the daily activities and worries,” mentions His Excellency Mr. Sergey Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Romania.
But he enjoys as much the Old Center, where he comes out with the family and friends in order to relax. “Another place in Bucharest in which I enjoy to go out often with family and friends is the Old Center. This part of the city impresses by the numerous tourist attractions, restaurants and coffee-shops; nevertheless, here you can always find both secluded spots and palaces and majestic buildings that have not yet been affected by the newer constructions, or by the operating of the coffee-shops or restaurants. Here can be felt constantly the atmosphere of “The Bucharest of yore,” regardless if we talk about the interwar constructions, or buildings at the end of the 19th century,” explains the foreign diplomate.
But, naturally, the Ambassador of Armenia in Romania could not help making reference to the strong ties existing between this city and the community of the Armenians. “And at long last, obviously, to me, as Ambassador of Armenia in Romania, one the most significant areas of Bucharest is the neighborhood in which is situated that very street that is the proof of the historical presence of the Armenian community in your country and in its Capital, namely – The Armenian Street. Here there are many historical buildings, including The Armenian Church, which also symbolizes the Armenian presence on the hospitable lands of Romania, where, by the fate’s will and as a result of tragic historical events, as was the Genocide in 1915, entire generations of my compatriots found sure refuge and the opportunity to create. This street, on which many historical buildings were preserved, demonstrates also the contribution that the Armenians brought to the economic, cultural and educational development of your country, including as regards outlining today’s image of Bucharest. The best example in that respect is the Armenian Street Festival, conducted for a number of years now, during the month of August, by the Armenian community, and that has already become one of the tourist attractions of the Capital of Romania,” specifies His Excellency Mr. Sergey Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Romania.
Besides, he told us that when friends in Armenia or in other countries in which there are important Armenian communities visit him, these ones are interested, in the first place, to visit those places in Bucharest bearing an “Armenian mark” or being a proof of the Armenian cultural or architectural heritage in the Capital of Romania. “And here I am not referring only to the Armenian Street or to the Armenian neighborhood where the Armenian Church or the headquarters of the Union of the Armenians in Romania are located. In the same category is included The Zambaccian Museum as well – created by the efforts of the famous collector of Armenian origin Krikor Zambaccian, who gathered one of the best collections of Romanian and European paintings in Romania. Also, we’re talking about the Museum of Art Collections, hosting collections of other famous art and painting connoisseurs, such as Garabet Avakian, Beatrice and Hrandt Avakian or Hurmuz Aznavorian. And finally, strolling through the Old Center, we love to go to Hanul lui Manuc / Manuc’s Inn, one of the oldest functional buildings in the historical center of Bucharest that belonged to the famous Armenian merchant and diplomate Manuc Bei Mirzaian, political and social activist in Romania at the end of the 18th century – the beginning of the 19th century. In this building was signed one of the most important diplomatic documents of the 19th century – The Bucharest Peace, between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Apart from these places bearing “the Armenian mark,” Bucharest stands out also by many touristic and cultural attractions that I visit with the greatest pleasure along with my friends; one such place is also Hard Rock Café, one of the largest in Eastern Europe,” declares His Excellency Mr. Sergey Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Romania.
The foreign diplomate says about Bucharest that is a very open and inviting city both to the ones visiting it, and also for its inhabitants. “It’s a very green city, with many parks – a thing that you can seldom find in the large cities. In my perception, the image of Bucharest is that of a dynamic city, in permanent development and transformation, and that perfects every time its aspect. Obviously, the urban regeneration process necessitates considerable efforts and resources, both on the side of the authorities of the city, and of its inhabitants. Beyond the matter of the development of the touristic infrastructure, probably there would be useful new solutions of transport and logistics that could contribute, for instance, to decongesting the traffic, especially in the center of the city. But I believe that the most important aspect that needs to be taken into account in the forming process of the future image of Bucharest is that the city would not lose of its distinct charm it is possessed of – that synergy of the contrast between the architecture of past and present,” points out His Excellency Mr. Sergey Minasyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Romania.
The image of Bucharest reflected by means of the foreign Ambassadors in Romania affords us the possibility not only to discover the way the city is seen “from the outside,” but also to identify possible solutions for the community’s development.
And, as we are only at the beginning of the road, we propose to you that in the following article we discover the vision of another foreign diplomate accredited at Bucharest about the Capital of Romania.
