Palatul Parlamentului

The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is one of the largest administrative buildings in the world, a colossus raised during the communist regime under Nicolae Ceaușescu on Spirii Hill, in a district of the city heavily demolished to make room for the project. The construction, begun in the 1980s, impresses with its enormous dimensions, hundreds of rooms, monumental reception halls, long corridors and a colossal built surface. The interior displays marble, solid wood, huge crystal chandeliers and specially woven carpets, all made from Romanian materials, illustrating the megalomaniac ambition of the era. Today the building houses the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate and a museum of contemporary art, and is open to the public through guided tours.

From the upper terraces a wide panorama unfolds over the boulevard leading to Unirii Square. The palace remains a contradictory symbol of recent history. Visitors usually need to book the tour in advance and present an identity document.