To make way for his civic center Ceausescu ordered
the demolition of all the buildings located in and around Unirii Square. The Brancovenesc Hospital, the Sf. Vineri
Church, the Sf. Spiridon Church, the Vacaresti Monastery and many others historic buildings and monuments as well
as lots of private houses were virtually wiped out. I don't know due to which circumstances, but it happened that a
few old churches were sparred from demolition. However, they were moved from their initial location, and hidden from
sight behind the grey apartment complexes of the new civic center. Mihai Voda is one of these churches. It was moved
280m on rails and dumped in a back yard behind some blocks of flats. Once a beautiful monastery, built in 1591 by the
great voivode Michael the Brave, its medieval cloister and old buildings were demolished and only the church and the
gate tower survived. I don't remember how the monastery looked before Ceausescu's ordered it being moved (and parts
of it destroyed), I was very little then. But the church seems to blossom and every time I visit it looks better and
better despite its sad location. One of my favourite architectural details is the beautiful sculpted frame of the main
door. Don't forget to take a look at it. Address: Str. Sapientei
