Located in the Old Town of Bucharest, in an area full of historical, architectural and cultural value, „Hanul cu Tei” is distinguished by its unusual architecture, preserved intact until today.
Two massive gates ensure the entrances of the gangway paved with the river stone, from the streets Blănari and Lipscani. Shops with heavy shutters on the windows are arranged one the both sides of the inner courtyard. Built in 1833 by two owners, Anastasie Polizu and Ştefan Popovici, whose initials A.P. and S.P., are kept even today on the entrance wall, the inn retains its charm and picturesque of old times. Today, the inn hosts the Beerhouse „Hanul cu Tei”, the Restaurant Embassy and an art gallery and antiques.
The Gallery „Hanul cu Tei”, a journey into past
With an area of 1400 sq.m., the Gallery „Hanul cu Tei” is considered to be the largest art gallery in the country. The history and architecture of the building that houses it, but also the vicinity of the historical monuments in the Old Town, Curtea Sticlarilor (the glass blowers yard), Manuc's Inn, Royal Court, the National Bank Palace, the churches Stavropoleos and St. Anton ingrain this area with a medieval and nostalgic air, attracting an impressive number of visitors every year. The Gallery has several salons: Ludovic XV, Louis-Philippe, Rococo, Ludovic XVI and is divided into 12 galleries.
This is not only an exhibition space for art, there is also the possibility to to enhance immediately the antiques: furniture, panels, tapestries, carpets, paintings, icons, photographs, albums, watches, cameras, gramophones, coins, decorations, toys and so on. Passing from a salon to another, breathing a fragrant air with the scent of those ancient times, you can imagine that you're back in time.
You can see how you can feel comfortable sitting on a Louis chair, sipping a mint tea from a small cup Rosenthal, or Meisen, or Rosslau and drink spring water from a crystal Baccara glass. Then you go to the next salon to admire the engravings on canvas and the family photos from 1800.
You stop then in front of the pendulums, which seem to stop the time and you look in the mirrors with the gilded frames. You can then listen the musical little boxes with their crystalline sound that coming from the waves of time. Here it smells of sulfine, of linden flowers, cherry wood and walnut, quince and basil, wrapped odour with antiques flavour.
Sources:
www.bucuresteni.ro/despre/galeria_de_arta_si_antichitati_hanul_cu_tei_
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