Banking a ball off the massive walls of Palatul Parlamentului requires a steady wing and a bit of luck. This full round of 18 holes takes place on the real streets of Bucureşti, using the actual city map as the course. The holes are built directly from the city's real attractions, with portals helping the ball skip across the 11.6 km walk. Skip is a local guide who knows these sidewalks and corners by heart.
Let me show you the Palace of the Parliament. This Neoclassical building is located atop Dealul Spirii and is a massive feat of construction, weighing about 4,098,500 tonnes with a floor area of 365,000 m2. Anca Petrescu is the architect of the site, which had its inception in 1985. While it reaches a height of 84 m, it also extends 92 m deep underground. Today, the building is used as a palace, parliament building, convention center, and theatre building. I usually find it's the best spot in the city to feel truly small.
Mănăstirea Mihai Vodă is a monastery and a Historic Monument. Built in 1591, it was founded by Mihai Viteazul. Over the years, the monastery buildings served many different purposes, including a military hospital, a medical school, and a residence of the country's leaders. The site also served as the location for the National Archives of Romania. You can also learn that within the monastery yard, there used to be a Dacian archeological site that is more than 3000 years old.
Look closely at the French neoclassical style of the facade before taking in the whole Palace of the National Military Circle. Located on Constantin Mile street in Bucharest, Romania, this building is a Historic Monument. It was built in 1911 and designed by architects Dimitrie Maimarolu, Victor Stefanescu, and Ernest Doneaud. The style of the Cercul Militar Național is academic art. I've noticed the building always looks impressive from the street level, and it is a great spot to pause and admire the architecture of the area.
Located in the Royal Palace in Revolution Square in central Bucharest, this building houses the National Museum of Art of Romania. It is a national art museum that was founded in 1948. When you visit, you can pick out collections of medieval Romanian art as well as modern Romanian art. The museum also features an international collection assembled by the Romanian royal family. I have found that the palace architecture makes for a grand backdrop to the galleries, and the scale of the rooms is quite impressive for any visitor.
Petre Antonescu is the architect behind this site. He designed Palatul Crețulescu, a palace built for the Kretzulescu family in 1902–1904. It is a Historic Monument designed in the Gothic Revival style. You can find this building on Știrbei Vodă Street nr. 39 in Bucharest, Romania. I have always found the Gothic details here quite striking compared to some of the other spots in the city, and the facade makes for a great bank shot if you are aiming for the hole. It is a wonderful example of the architect's work in the city.
You will first notice the Neoclassical architecture of Ateneul Român, a concert hall that stands 41 meters tall. Paul Louis Albert Galleron was the architect of this building, which was started in 1888. It is a Historic Monument and carries the European Heritage Label. If you are visiting during the right time of year, you can find the George Enescu Festival hosted here. I find the scale of the place quite impressive from the street, and it is a wonderful landmark to orient yourself by while you are exploring the city.
The University of Bucharest sits right next to Piața Universității, a square located in the city centre. This area is designated as a Historic Monument and serves as a major focal point for the surrounding district. If you are arriving by transit, you can pick out the Universitate metro station which serves the square. I've found the flow of people here makes it a great spot to watch the city move, especially when the crowds gather around the edges of the square. It is a place where the academic world meets the rush of the downtown streets.
Look closely at the Brâncovenesc art style details of Palatul Voievodal Curtea Veche. This architectural structure is a Historic Monument located in the historic centre of Bucharest, Romania. It was built as a palace or residence during the rule of Vlad III Dracula in 1459. While the ruins may seem still, the site is active; archaeological excavations started here in 1953. Today, the Muzeul Municipiului București operates the site. I always find the contrast between the old stones and the busy city streets around it quite striking.
Located at 9-11 Sf. Vineri Street, the Choral Temple is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue. This building is a Historic Monument that was started in 1866 and completed in 1866. When you look at the exterior, you can see that the Choral Temple was designed in the Moorish Revival style. This is also known as the neo-Mudéjar style. It is a significant site for the community and a notable example of this specific architectural approach within the city of Bucharest.
Mănăstirea Stavropoleos is an Eastern Orthodox church building and monastery. It is a Historic Monument designed in the Brâncovenesc art style. Started in 1724, this site is an Eastern Orthodox monastery for nuns in central Bucharest, Romania. The patrons of the church are St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The name Stavropoleos is the genitive case of Stavropolis. You can see how these elements come together in this central Bucharest location, where the monastery continues its role as a place of worship and a preserved example of the Brâncovenesc art style.
You will first notice the scale of Piața Unirii, which is the largest square in central Bucharest, Romania. This square is part of the Civic Centre and is bisected by Unirii Boulevard. That boulevard was renamed after the Romanian Revolution of 1989. It is a Historic Monument that was started in 1960. If you are heading toward the old town, you will find this space located just to the south within the boundaries of Sector 3. I always find the open space here a bit breezy for a pigeon.
Sinagoga Mare, also known as the Great Polish Synagogue, is located at 11 Vasile Adamache in the Old Jewish District of Bucharest. The inception of the building was in 1845, and the Polish-Jewish community completed the work in 1847. Built in the Neoclassical architecture style, the site is an important landmark of the city's religious history. Since its completion, the building's role has evolved, and it is currently used as a Jewish museum. You can see the specific architectural details of the Neoclassical style as you approach the entrance of the site.
You will immediately notice the bold, raw concrete of Teatrul Național, as the building is designed in the brutalist architecture style. Located in Bucharest, which is the capital city of Romania, this site is one of the national theatres of Romania. It is a theatre building that had its inception in 1973. I always find the heavy geometric shapes of this place a striking contrast to the surrounding streets, making it a landmark that you cannot miss while walking through the city center.
This is not just any open space in central Bucharest; it is Piața Revoluției. Located on Calea Victoriei, the square houses the Athenaeum, the Athénée Palace Hotel, the University of Bucharest Library, and the former Royal Palace. You can also find the Memorial of Rebirth here. The square is home to the building of the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party. This specific building became the seat of the Senate in 1990, and since 2006 it has housed the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform. It is a spot where you can see many of the city's most important landmarks in one view.
The structure reaches a height of 22 meters. This is the Catedrala romano-catolică Sfântul Iosif, a Catholic church in Bucharest, Romania. Designed by architect Friedrich von Schmidt, the building was started in 1884 and is built in the Romanesque Revival architecture style. It is recognized as a Historic Monument and serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest. You can find this site located at 19 General Berthelot Street, where the architecture and history of the Roman Catholic community in the city are preserved.
An artificial lake sits at the heart of Parcul Cișmigiu, with park areas spanning all sides of the water. Located in the center of Bucharest, Romania, this public park is the oldest in the city's central area. It is a Historic Monument that covers 14.6 hectares. I find it a great spot to stretch your wings away from the traffic. You can see why it remains the largest park in this part of the city, providing a wide open space for everyone to enjoy in the middle of the urban bustle.
The Muzeul Militar Național "Regele Ferdinand I" is a military museum located at 125-127 Mircea Vulcănescu St. in Bucharest. King Ferdinand I established the institution on 18 December 1923. While the museum has a long history, it has been at its present site since 1988. You can see that the building itself is a more recent addition to the street, as construction was finished in 1998. I've found the architecture here quite striking compared to some of the older spots in the city.
You will first notice the massive variety of greenery here. Grădina Botanică is a botanical garden located in the Cotroceni neighbourhood of Bucharest, Romania. It is a Historic Monument that covers a surface of 18.2 hectares. To keep the more sensitive plants happy, the garden includes 4,000 square metres of greenhouses. With more than 10,000 species of plants on display, it is a great place to wander. I find the scale of the greenhouses quite impressive when you see them up close.