Museums In Iasi

Museum of Moldova (Complexul Muzeal National Moldova)
Address: Piata Stefan cel Mare si Sfant 1
(housed in the Palace of Culture / Palatul Culturii)
Tel: (232) 218.383
Email: contact@muzeul-moldova.ro
Web: www.muzeul-moldova.ro
Open: Tue. – Sun. 10:00am – 5:00pm; closed on Mon.
Admission charge (tickets may be purchased for one or all four museums)

1. Moldavian Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul Etnografic al Moldovei)

The Moldavian Ethnographic Museum is one of the oldest and largest in the country. Encompassing 16 rooms, the displays cover every aspect of traditional Moldavian life, featuring agricultural and hunting tools, woodwork, traditional pottery, painted eggs and a good collection of textiles and dyed carpets embroidered with bird and plant motifs. One room exhibits winter customs items, including masks representing the bear, the goat and other characters of traditional New Year’s festivities. The collection of wooden machinery is impressive with 19th century tree-size oil and wine presses.

2. Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta)

The art collection began with a set of oil paintings purchased at a Parisian auction in 1845. The official opening took place in 1860 at the Old University Palace and in 1955, the museum moved to its current location in the Palace of Culture. An excellent collection of Romanian paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries vividly illustrates Moldavian rural life and its landscape. Nicolae Grigorescu’s Car cu Boi (Ox Cart), Theodor Amann’s Hora de peste Olt (The Village Dance) and O. Bancila’s Batran Croitor (Old Jewish Tailor) are some of the collection’s highlights.

In the four rooms devoted to European art, there are paintings by Murillo, Philippe de Champaigne, Paolo Veronese and a Rubens, Cezar Receiving Pompey’s Head. Additionally, you’ll find works by foreign artists who lived and worked in Iasi such as Schiavonim Livaditii and Stavscki.

The sculpture collection includes pieces by national artists such as Oscar Han, Cornel Medrea, Ion Jalea and Ion Irimescu.

3. Moldavian History Museum (Muzeul de Istorie al Moldovei)

Opened in 1955, this museum features some 35,000 objects spanning the centuries from 70,000 B.C. until 1946. These exhibits cover 19 rooms on the ground floor of the Palace of Culture. Some of the famous Cucuteni ceramics are on display here.

The museum also houses the vaulted King’s Room (Sala Voievozilor), a gallery of medallion-shaped portraits depicting Moldavian sovereigns from 81 A.D. to the Hohenzollern kings.

4. Science and Technology Museum (Muzeul Stiintei si Tehnicii)

Radio, television, recording and broadcasting buffs will enjoy the exhibits displayed in this museum. The last section features a superb collection of musical instruments: unique Romanian music boxes, mechanical accordions and an automated orchestra with three violins and a piano.

Natural History Museum (Muzeul de Stiinte al Naturii)
Address: Blvd. Independentei 16
Tel: (232) 218.337
Open: Tue. - Sat. 9:00am – 4:00pm; Sun. 10:00am – 5:00pm; closed on Mon.
Admission charge
The Moldavian Society of Physicians and Naturalists opened their collection to the public in 1834. Today, the museum features 50,000 exhibits, illustrating fauna from around the world, and is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. A special section is dedicated to Moldavian geology. Apart from its minerals, the museum also has a collection of prehistoric fossils containing fragments of mammoth, cave bear and rhinoceros.

Interesting facts:
The museum is housed in the 18th century Russet House, where Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected Prince of Moldavia in 1859.

Theatre Museum (Muzeul Teatrului)
Address: Str. Vasile Alecsandri 5
Tel: (232) 115.760
Open: Tue. – Sun 10:00am – 5:00pm; closed on Mon.
Admission charge
The museum is housed in a late 18th century house, once the property of poet and diplomat Vasile Alecsandri (1821-1890), who played an important role in the founding of Moldavian theatre. The museum celebrates the history of theatre in Iasi and displays costumes worn by well-known actors in memorable roles, original documents, playbills and posters, as well as personal artifacts and memorabilia donated by various actors.