National History Museum of Romania

The National History Museum of Romania on Calea Victoriei in Bucharest occupies the Post Palace, built between 1894 and 1900 to designs by Alexandru Savulescu in an eclectic style with a grand staircase and stained glass. The museum traces Romanian history from prehistory to the early 20th century, and its two main attractions draw most visitors. The Lapidarium in the basement and ground floor holds a full-size plaster cast of Trajan's Column, with 125 panels telling the story of the Roman conquest of Dacia in a continuous spiral; seeing the reliefs at eye level is easier here than on the original in Rome. The Historical Treasury contains more than three thousand objects in gold and silver, including the Pietroasele treasure with its 4th-century Gothic gold, Dacian bracelets, medieval jewellery, crowns and royal regalia such as the Romanian Crown Jewels. Other galleries cover Dacian, Roman and medieval periods. A visit takes one to one and a half hours. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with the ticket office closing at 17:15, and it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Adult tickets cost about 22 RON, and pupils and students pay from about 5.50 RON. Weekday mornings are quiet, and weekends see more families. Bags are checked at entry, and the Treasury has additional security. The building stands beside Strada Lipscani and close to Piata Unirii, so it combines easily with a walk through the Old Town. Photography policies in the Treasury are strict, so confirm at the ticket desk.