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 in the center of the capital whereSectors 1,2,3, and4 meet. 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 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. TheUnirea Shopping Center, the Cocor department store and a largetaxi stand 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.
In 2023, an analysis carried out by civil engineers revealed severe degradation to the cover of theDâmbovița 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 these revelations, traffic of over 3.5 tonnes is banned from travelling through the square.[1]
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44°25′40.79″N26°6′7.82″E / 44.4279972°N 26.1021722°E /44.4279972; 26.1021722