The Civic Centre

The Civic Centre area was fundamentally reconfigured during the communist regime. From a merchant street it became a wide boulevard, flanked by tall buildings with contrasting functions, poorly connected with the collective housing. The “Moldova” Universal Shop (1971) was the equivalent of a capitalist Shopping Mall. The “Moldova” Hotel (1982) was destined to minimize “Saint Nicolas Princely” Church through its size. The symmetrical buildings around the Palace of Justice feature at the first floor a concrete frieze which stylizes Hora Unirii (Union dance). Close to the old Wall and Iron Market (“Fish Market”), built by Gustave Eiffel in 1871 and demolished in 1988 is the new concrete Central Market erected in 1977. Toward the front of it, ruins of manor cellars were opened to public in 2012 through the “Saint Friday” passage. (PHOTO : Cosmin CEUCĂ)