 View of the square in 2009 | |
 Interactive map of Piața Unirii | |
| Former name | Piața Națiunii |
|---|---|
| Location | Bucharest,Romania |
| Coordinates | 44°25′39.324″N26°06′8.772″E / 44.42759000°N 26.10243667°E /44.42759000; 26.10243667 |
| North | Strada Halelor |
| South | Splaiul Independenței |
| Construction | |
| Completion | c. 1935 |
Piața Unirii (Romanian pronunciation:[ˈpjat͡sauˈnirij],Union Square) is the largest square in centralBucharest,Romania, and one of the largest public spaces in Europe, being located immediately south of theold town and within the boundaries ofSectors 3.[1] Part of theCivic Centre, it is bisected byUnirii Boulevard, originally built during theCommunist era as the Boulevard of the Victory of Socialism, and renamed after theRomanian Revolution of 1989.
The square functions as part of an extendedreinforced concretebridge crossing theDâmbovița River The part of the square capping the river is called the Union Floor (Romanian:Planșeul Unirii), measuring 32 m (105.0 ft) wide by 360 m (1,181.1 ft) long, stretching diagonally through the square.[2][3]
TheUnirea Shopping Center and the Cocor department store are located on the east side of this square, while the historicHanul lui Manuc is on the north side, near the northeast corner. The centre of the square boasts a park and the fountains which are particularly popular with commuters and passers-by in the torrid summer months, as it is the largest complex of fountains in Europe and one of the most impressive in the world, its spectacle becoming a huge tourist attraction after the reopening of the fountains in 2018, as part of the celebrations of the Centennial of theGreat Union of 1918. There were plans since theinterwar period to build theRomanian National Salvation Cathedral on the place of this park, but in the early 2000s the idea proved technically impossible due to the busy underground environment and therefore the location was changed.
Construction of the square began in December 1934 and was inaugerated on October 15, 1935 as Nation Square (Romanian:Piața Națiunii) as the start of a plan by mayorDem I. Dobrescu (and continued byAlexandru Gh. Donescu [ro]) to cover the whole of the Dâmbovița through Bucharest, which city officials had seen as a nuisance because of its pollution and flood risk.[2] The square incorporates the older stone and masonry arched bridges of the Coșbuc bridge and the Șerban Vodă bridge.
In 2023, an analysis carried out by civil engineers revealed severe degradation to the cover of the Dâmbovița River at Piața Unirii. The cover, which was part of a larger, unrealized project between 1938 and 1941, was found to be in a state of advanced degradation, with exposedrebar and crumbling concrete. Following the discovery, traffic of over 3.5 tonnes was banned from traveling through the square.[4] On May 27, 2024,mayorNicușor Dan approved a construction permit for the reconstruction of the square.[5]
The square is a significant transportation hub, containing thePiața Unirii metro station and a major interchange forSTB buses; there is also a tram terminal near the southwest corner and a largetaxi stand.
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| Sectors of Bucharest |  | |
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| Districts (quarters) |
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| Squares | ||
| Major streets | ||
| Hills | ||
| Rivers | ||
| Lakes | ||
| Parks and forests | ||
| See also | ||
44°25′40.79″N26°6′7.82″E / 44.4279972°N 26.1021722°E /44.4279972; 26.1021722