Neglect

As I have mentioned, Constantza has a beautiful old center area that unfortunately is in a bad state of neglect. I hesitated to go deeper into this topic, because it's not pleasant, but this example impressed me too much to keep it for myself.
It's called "Casa cu lei" (The House with Lions), and it's an imposing edifice built in 1897, in the Italian Renaissance style. It belonged to an Armenian lumber merchant and then to a judge who had an impressive art collection. This collection attracted a curious young Armenian boy who used to peep though the windows and admire the objects and one day, after conspiring with the maid, was able to enter and take a closer look. The boy would become our biggest art collector, Krikor Zambaccian. The house sheltered less innocent love stories, as later it became a famous restaurant and a lovers' meeting point.
The reason for its pitiful state is a common one: after the revolution, it was the object of a legal dispute, as the former owners' heirs claimed it. It was abandoned and robbed, and the luxurious furniture inside was stolen and probably used for heating.
The first two photos are mine, the third is from Wikipedia and the one of the dying apple-tree, eaten alive by caterpillars despite his branches heavy with fruit is just a sad symbol of neglect.

Lost Treasures

In 1988 archaeologists discovered in the Northern part of Dobrogea, the territory near the Black Sea, a unique religious settlement. It consisted of two chapels and living quarters, and was supposed to belong to the 4th -6th century a.C.. After studying it and finding many art objects and a hoard consisting of gold Roman and Byzantine coins , they buried the settlement, in order to protect it until money would be found for its restoring.
Years passed by and the lot was sold to a company who started building on it. So one day, as the guardian of the site was absent, bulldozers came and leveled the ground. The settlement is gone.
Now the newspapers ask who is guilty: the company's managers, who asked no permission, the local mayor, who "failed to tell them", or the absent guardian?
Does it matter?

A Living Town

I don't think we should walk on our toes around history. Our town is a living being and this mixture of old and new can give it charm and graphicalness.
But the dwellers of Bucharest still recall the old center of the town that was demolished to make room for the "House of People", though it had been part of what had been once called "The Little Paris". Or the historical buildings and old churches thoughtlessly replaced by parking lots, shopping centers or boulevards. They can never be brought back.
These things should never happen, no matter what their "reason" could be.
I think the young people should learn that. What do you think?

Stifled Monuments

SantaTeresa's church in Avila is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen.The Spanish government really knows how to preserve the country's treasures. The square in which the building is situated allows for a breathing space. The buildings around it are not taller and they seem to keep a respectful distance.That is not the case , unfortunately, for a twin building in Bucharest: Saint Joseph's Cathedral. A huge "mastodont" is being built on its right side, covering the beautiful church almost completely.Why should the present invade and suffocate such a beautiful architectural treasure?There are so many beautiful things in Romania which have a similar fate...

Mioara

Surrounded

Our old towns have become surrounded by our modern societies. New buildings, supermarkets, roads, parking-lots have grown around churches, palaces, cathedrals.
Sometimes, aesthetics rules have been followed. Others, business interests have won.
So, the result is not the same for all our old towns.
Can art and history coexist with our shopping centres and blocks of houses?
Look for examples in your town to answer the question