Every step in Iasi County tells a story
Each county of Romania is unique through its local history and legends, as well as through the traditions preserved from long ago.
We invite you to visit all the counties included in Attractive Romania, and for the experience to be complete, we present the stories and customs of each area, so that your trip is unforgettable!
Next, we step into Iași County, where 4 objectives included on the route of castles, monasteries and wooden churches are waiting for you to admire them and find out their stories.
✴️ Renee Perle was the first professional model in human history
The cultural capital of Romania, Iasi boasts numerous places full of history and color and many important personalities. However, did you know that the first professional model in the history of mankind, who has inspired dozens of renowned photographers and designers over time, was born in Iasi? Her name was Renadi Pârlea, she was Romanian, she had Jewish origins and became famous under the name Renee Perle. The famous French photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue said about her: "I have worked with many beautiful women. Besides her, all the others seemed peasant." In the 2000s, the auction house was selling one of Lartigue's 1932 photographs of Renne for over $4,300.
✴️ The Three Holy Hierarchs, the Byzantine monument in the heart of Moldavia
Characteristic for Iasi is the number of churches, which, in relation to the number of inhabitants, places it on the first place in the country. Of the more than 70 churches, almost half are included in the list of historical monuments. Among these, one building is quite special, distinguishing itself both by its artistic value and by the representativeness it holds for the Iasi community: the church of the Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery, a monument included in 2019 in the UNESCO heritage.
The monastery evokes the aspiration of its founder, Vasile Lupu, towards the Byzantine world. The ensemble included the church, the Gothic hall, as well as the abbots' houses, the bell tower and the printing press. It is said that it was gilded with gold and that the church shone like the sun. It is said that shortly after the death of the ruler, the Ottomans invaded Moldavia and, arriving in Iasi and seeing the miracle of the church, they set fire all around to melt the gold and steal it. However, being only gilded with gold, they had nothing to gather, but the damage had already been done.