Our adventures with the gang on the hit TV show, Amazing Race, continue through the Season 14, Episode 3 trip through Romania. Romania is a stunning section of the world and we’re surprised that it doesn’t often make it onto the average traveler’s itinerary very often.
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The contestants had the opportunity to visit some of the more well-known areas of Romania but also ducked their heads in on some lesser known cities and towns as well. Check out the incredible places they visited.
Bucharest, Romania
The city of Bucharest in Romania is believed to have been in existence since approximately 500 BC, though actual documentation doesn’t appear until around 1459 AD. Now serving as the capital of Romania, Bucharest has earned a reputation for being a hot spot for those looking to live the “high life.” It has even earned the nickname of “Little Paris.”
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Bucharest earned its name when a shepherd by the name of Bucur captivated audiences with his flute playing and endeared them to him by serving wines he brought from some of the local vineyards. The local traders decided to name the area, located on the Dambivita River, after the shepherd.
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The city is, without a doubt rich with history. During the 15th century Prince Vlad Tepes housed his court in Bucharest. The area was the capital of Walachia during the 17th century and by 1862 had become the capital of Romania.
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Those looking to explore some of Bucharest’s main landmarks should include Casa Presei Libere, or the House of the Free Press, on this list of things to see. Built in 1956, the building at one point was the home to all of the printing presses in the capital. Today it houses not only newsrooms but is also the location of the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
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Piata Revolutiei, or Revolution Square, is also a significant landmark that shouldn’t be missed. The square became a cultural landmark in December of 1989 when Nicolae Cesusescu, the then leader of the communist party, looked down from the balcony of the Communist Party Headquarters and realized that his people had turned against him. While certainly not the first notable historic point in the square, the start of the Revolution is a piece of recent history that had a huge impact on the development of current day Bucharest.
Brasov, Transylvania, Romania
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The city of Brasov can be found in the Transylvania section of Romania. Only 28.5 square miles in size, the city is home to approximately 320,000 people. Brasov is surrounded by the Southern Carpathian Mountains and is a city jam packed with historical landmarks and baroque architecture.
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The city was officially founded in 1211 by a group of Teutonic Knights. Over time the prominent location of the city, between the Ottoman Empire and the rest of Western Europe, put the Brasov in a position to become a very wealthy community full of merchants. The city’s importance led to the building of several walls and towers. During medieval times each tower was guarded by a different craft guild.
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Anyone who has the opportunity to visit Brasov should include a trip to The Black Church, or Biserica Neagra, to their itineraries. The church was originally built between the years 1385 and 1477 and despite surviving several raids throughout history was destroyed by fire in 1689. The fire turned the walls of the church black, hence the new name. It took almost 100 years to restore the church and the project was completed with only one of two planned towers.
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The Council Square, also known as Piata Sfatului, was built by the Saxons and consisted of a series of enormous stone walls and bastions surrounding a collection of churches and ornate buildings. Within the Council Square you’ll find the Old Town Hall, the aforementioned Black Church, the Merchant’s House, and the Orthodox Cathedral’s spectacular archway.
Costa Rica
OK - so the travelers didn’t actually get to visit Costa Rica during this episode, but the winners and the end of the day earned a trip to Costa Rica – one we’re sure they’re going to enjoy much more than the events they experienced to earn the trip.
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A trip to Costa Rica will prove to be completely different than any of the experiences our travelers had in Romania. Here they’ll have the opportunity for a different style of vacation – consisting of snorkeling, windsurfing, zip-lining, and participating in a number of other outdoor activities. Of course, those who prefer to keep things a bit low key will enjoy relaxing on some of the area’s beautiful beaches. It just depends on where in Costa Rica they end up.
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Romania is a country with the power to keep visitors spellbound as they explore and uncover some of the mysteries of the area’s dark yet magnificent history. Pack your bags and prepare for an adventure you’ll never forget!
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