Bucharest is the capital city of romania and it is a major cultural, entertainment and financial center with significant influence in Eastern Europe. It is home to a variety of museums, opera houses, theatres and other institutions. It also has a thriving nightlife scene, and its many restaurants feature a diverse range of cuisines.

Romania is a relatively large and geographically diverse country. It is a member of NATO and the European Union, and its economy is primarily market-oriented with developed tourist facilities in Bucharest and elsewhere. Natural resources include petroleum, coal, iron ore, and salt; and the country is a significant producer of energy, especially hydro power. Forests and fertile soils are abundant, and wildlife includes brown bears, lynx, wild cats, martens, capercaillies, and chamois.

The name “Romania” is derived from the Latin word for Rome. It was adopted in 1859 after the unification of Wallachia and Transylvania; it became official in the 1860s when Bucharest replaced Cluj as the capital of the newly unified nation.

Bucharest was a cosmopolitan city before World War II when its architecture, city planning, and culture were influenced by the French. After the war, its growth was fueled by the nationalization of business and industry that began in 1948. Nicolae CEAUSESCU’s Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive throughout the 1980s until his overthrow and execution in 1989.

The center of the city contains a mix of medieval, neoclassical, Art Deco, and modern structures. The massive, Communist-era Palatul Parlamentului government building is one of the city’s iconic landmarks. Other attractions include the Lipscani district’s energetic nightlife, and the 15th-century Curtea Veche Palace where Vlad III (“The Impaler”) once ruled.