Cluj Napoca is Romania's second-largest city and the unofficial capital of the region of Transylvania. Founded as the Roman settlement of Napuca, Cluj-Napoca's rich history culminated in the 16th century, when it was dubbed a "treasure city" due to its thriving precious metal trade. Today, this university hub boasts historical sites that date back to Saxon and Hungarian rule, a vibrant nightlife and cultural landmarks galore.
A veritable treasure trove of architecture, Union Square is a medley of Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and NeoClassical buildings. Banffy Palace, its crown jewel, is dubbed the most archetypal Transylvanian-Baroque structure. Former residence to Austro-Hungarian governors, it now hosts the Cluj National Art Museum. It displays sculptures, graphics, weaponry, furniture, carpets and paintings by local artists like N. Grigorescu, Th. Aman and Th. Pallady.
Cluj Napoca is brimming with cultural landmarks. One of Transylvania's most beautiful Gothic-style Catholic churches, St. Michael's boasts an awe-inspiring star-shaped vault, stained glass windows, grand sculptures and murals. Another imposing structure within walking distance is the Calvinist Reformed Church, one of the largest in south-eastern Europe. Built in late-Gothic-style, it hosts frequent concerts thanks to its unbeatable acoustics. To round off the church tour, the Orthodox Cathedral, the third tallest church in Romania, mixes Byzantine and Renaissance architecture and displays murals, domes and mosaics.
History buffs will appreciate the Transylvania History Museum, which traces local history from the Paleolithic era and beyond. It showcases the Dacian civilization, ancient books, medieval artifacts, modern memoirs, decorative art and coins. For a foray into local traditions and folk art, head over to the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. Over 65,000 items pertaining to trades, dwellings, pottery, textiles and folk costumes are yours to see. Tailors' Bastion and Firemen's Tower, part of the old citadel, offer further glimpses into Transylvanian life. Finally, panoramic views from Fortress Hill, where Saxon leaders were executed, show the power that Austrian rulers once had over these vast lands.
Moving on to science, the Pharmacy History Collection at the Hintz Residence displays over 2,300 pharmacy tools and paraphernalia. It's here that Cluj's first-ever pharmacy was opened back in 1573. But perhaps the most intriguing site is the Emil Racoviță Speleology Museum. It houses over 50,000 exhibits of subterranean fauna from over 1,400 caves from around the world, as well as samples from the Arctic Circle and beyond.
For days out with the kids, the Alexandru Borza Botanical Garden is your go-to. As one of the largest in south-eastern Europe, it boasts some 10,000 species of plants. It's also home to a museum, a Japanese-style house with its own garden and brook, a Roman garden with relics from ancient colonies, and several greenhouses with tropical and desert plants, including Amazonian water lilies. Then picture yourself as a Transylvanian at the Romulus Vuia Ethnography Park, where you'll see 90 traditional structures. Among them are dwellings, churches, wells, sawmills, potteries, sheepfolds, gold ore crushers, blacksmiths, and hide tanning works. Later in the day, head over to Central Park for a stroll or some rowing on the boating lake.
There's no shortage of kid-friendly entertainment in Cluj Napoca, starting with the Puck Puppet Theater. For adult audiences, some of the most sought-after venues are the National Theater and the Hungarian Theater & Opera. As the foremost music venue in Transylvania, the Philharmonic Concert Hall is sure to resonate, while the National Opera has been delighting audiences since 1919.
