Tag: Roman Empire

Italica, Seville – the birthplace of Emperor Trajan

Valentin Mandache

Italica is the oldest Roman colony outside Italy, founded by Scipio Africanus in 206 BCE, with legionaries who fought in the Second Punic War campaign in the region. It is the birthplace of emperors Trajan and Hadrian. This video is an evocation of Trajan’s actions and importance in the conquest of Dacia and how laden with symbolism is the place where he was born for events that have happened at the other end of Europe, and their historic consequences.

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I endeavour through this series of periodic articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural history and heritage.

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If you plan acquiring or selling a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing and transacting the property, specialist research, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.

The Hen with Golden Chicks treasure trove

Valentin Mandache

A short evocation of the place where the Goths buried in a hurry their treasure in 376 CE, when threatened by the marauding Huns, in what is now Pietroasele, southeastern Romania. They left in haste dashing towards the safety of the nearby Roman Empire frontier, burring there one of the important golden treasure troves found in Europe. It was discovered by local peasants in the 1830s, with a dramatic and checkered history afterwards, including a stint in Moscow during the Great War and the Read more →

The Roman fort of Pietroasele

Valentin Mandache

This is a video from my recent visit at Pietroasele, in Buzau county, southeast Romania, famous for a large Gothic treasure trove find, which it is now the main exhibit of the National Museum of History in Bucharest. The place also hosts a castrum/ fort, of no lesser historical importance, which was part of the advance warning outposts of the Roman Empire in the early 4th c CE, watching the corridor between the Great Bend of the Carpathian mountains and the Danube bend at Galati, a geographical feature linking the frontiers of the empire with the highways of migratory peoples roaming in the Pontic Steppe, the north Caucasus and Central Asia. Through this corridor fearsome peoples like the Goths, the Huns, the Avars or the Bulgarians will emerge like a Read more →