WHAT WE LOVE

A former bank headquarters built in the early 20th century that became a general store under the Communist regime. In the 1950s the building fell into disrepair. A descendant of the original owners, the Chrissoveloni banking family, reclaimed the building after a lengthy legal battle and returned it to its former glory. The renovated space is leased to Romania’s largest bookstore chain, Carturesti. The reimagined bookshop, Cărtureşti Carusel, opened in 2015 and occupies six floors including a bistro on the top floor, a multimedia space in the basement and a contemporary art gallery on the first floor. The beautiful, ornate Art Nouveau style interior with its elegant white balconies, pillars, and staircases houses houses over 10,000 titles.