5-May-25 Bucharest, Romania

Last here in 1997. Only a few years after the fall of the Wall and the collapse of East European dictatorships. Those of a certain age will remember the scenes being broadcast on the BBC when Ceausescu was toppled. Eventually tried and executed on Christmas Day 1989.

Passport needed to tour the Parliament Building. Given ticket at ticket desk. But. Have to pay at the souvenir shop across the concourse. Then passport scanned. Before entering the building.

But.

WHAT A BUILDING!!

Third largest in the world by volume.

Heaviest building in the world.

Building started in 1984.

Finished in 1997.

1,000,000m³ of marble.

3,500 tons of crystal.

2,800 chandeliers.

1,000 rooms.

Of which. 30 ballrooms. 4 restaurants. 3 libraries. 1 concert hall.

700 architects designed the place and each hall has slightly different styles.

Staggering.

White marble. Everywhere.

Huge ornate chandeliers. Everywhere.

Massive halls. Long corridors.

Simply stunning.

A symbol in the marble floors. Just looks like a decorative feature. But actually a plan of the building.

They say a picture paints a thousand words. So look at photos below and marvel at the enormity of it all.