Works on underground car park at Universitate unearth 300-year old academy ruins

Works on the underground car park in Universitate area in Bucharest have been slowed down by the discovery of 300 years old ruins, believed to be the premises of the Sfantu Sava Academy. Archeologists have been granted permission to unearth the ruins, but the Bucharest City Hall, which works on building the car park, says this will not affect the entire project, as they could incorporate the ruins into the car park. However, the Romanian Ministry of Culture is yet to decide whether the car park will be built on the ruins or if it will have to bypass them. Earlier this year, the municipality moved the statues across the street from the old University building to a new location and started works on the planned car park. When finalized, the statues will be brought back, with plans to create a small park around them. Similar ruins have been discovered when revamping works started in the Lipscani area of Bucharest, which is close to Universitate area. They were left on display, out in the open for a period of time, but eventually the municipality decided to pave the street, covering the ruins. Initially, the municipality intended to cover the entire area with glass, but eventually only a smaller area near the National Bank building was covered with glass, for display, making it one of the tourist attractions in the area. The ruins in the Lipscani area were of two inns, the Greci and Serban Voda Inns, both dating back from the 17th-18th centuries. For a photo gallery of the recently - unearthed ruins, go here. Photo credits: tabloid Libertatea. editor@romania-insider.com