Muzeul de Artă Populară „Prof. Dr. Nicolae Minovici”

The "Prof. Dr. Nicolae Minovici" Folk Art Museum — the famous Villa with Bells — is a house-museum in Băneasa, built in 1905 to the designs of architect Cristofi Cerchez, regarded as one of the pioneers of the Neo-Romanian style. The bells hanging from its eaves, which give it its nickname, were meant, in folk tradition, to ward off evil spirits. The house, with its picturesque verandas, arcades and roofs, is itself a work of art, set in a generous garden, conceived as a summer residence drawing on peasant architecture.

Doctor Nicolae Minovici, one of the great figures of Romanian medicine and founder of the first ambulance service in Bucharest, assembled here over decades an impressive collection of peasant art: icons on glass and wood, ceramics from every ethnographic region, folk costumes, textiles and finely crafted wooden objects. In 1937 he donated the house and collection to the city, turning a holiday villa into one of the loveliest small museums in Bucharest, a tribute to folk craftsmanship.

Good to know

• It lies in the north of the city, in Băneasa, near the Miorița Fountain — check the route and transport before you set off, as it is somewhat removed from the centre.
• It is a small, precious museum; allow time for the architecture of the house and the garden, not just the collection, and go in fine weather.
• For opening hours and tickets, consult the museum's official source before your visit, as the schedule may change.

With a 4.7 rating and more than 540 reviews, the Minovici villa is one of the most charming discoveries in Bucharest — a gem that even many locals have yet to visit. Combine it with the other sights in the north of the city.