It is the second largest university center in Romania. Some of these hills have conspicuous churches perched on top, each of which warrants a different view of the city. MEdieval churches, old European style houses and communist apartment buildings compete for space in this crowded city, which is constantly expanding into the surrounding villages; the urban rush of communism replaced houses, farms and vineyards with apartment buildings.
The land was confiscated from the peasants and they received apartments as compensation in the newly created common living spots. Factories sprung around the intensive urban effort, organized together in the industrial zone, only to be abandoned two generations later with the fall of the regime which gave them and the nation purpose. The children of those who left the countryside to move to the city now strive to build houses on the outskirting villages, although they drive hondas and not horses.
They are not peasants. They wear jeans and French perfume, but they plant grapes and onions and have begun to enjoy the freedoms of having a house like their grandparents had but their parents moved away from. Tourism in the city takes place around its heritage of archaeological sites, memorial houses, museums and historical and architectural monuments. Moreover, the folkloric and ethnographic heritage, the nature protection areas, and natural mineral waters as well as the vineyards in the surrounding countryside remain to be discovered.
The city is basically located at the border to Europe's poorest country and you may think that this location is shown off in the city. That is wrong though. Despite that the borough may be very poor and that you'll see horse carriage on the outskirts of the city, the center is currently undergoing a renaissance. As of , there is extensive restoration as well as new constructions. A brand new mall is opened and side walks and houses are renovated.
On top of that, the thriving student community puts a young and trendy atmosphere like in any other European student city. It was a commercial privilege elaborated by Alexandru cel Bun after some rounds of negotiation with merchants from Lviv. Iasi was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from until , when Moldavia united with Walachia to form the basis of the future modern Romanian state.
