Statuia Ecvestră a lui Carol I

The Equestrian Statue of Carol I depicts Romania's first king on horseback, in a solemn and commanding pose, a symbol of the monarchy that modernised the country. The original, by the great Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović and unveiled in 1939 in front of the Royal Palace, was torn down by the communist regime in 1948, when the monarchy was abolished. The statue we see today is a recreation of the interwar model, raised in 2010 on Calea Victoriei, in Revolution Square, facing the former Royal Palace — now the National Museum of Art.

It is one of the most important public monuments of modern Bucharest, both for its subject — Carol I, the German prince called to the throne in 1866, the king under whom Romania won its independence in 1877 and modernised profoundly — and for its setting, in the historic and political heart of the city. Around it stand some of the capital's most significant buildings: the Romanian Athenaeum, the former Central Committee headquarters, the Central University Library, which makes it an ideal starting point for a tour of the centre.

Good to know

• It stands in Revolution Square, on Calea Victoriei — easy to include in a walk through the historic centre, alongside the nearby Memorial of Rebirth.
• The nearest metro station is Universitate, a few minutes away on foot.
• Combine the visit with the National Museum of Art, the Romanian Athenaeum and the other sights in the area.

With a 4.7 rating, the statue is more than a monument: it is a statement about memory and about how a city chooses what to remember and what to restore after decades of absence. A short stop, but one full of history.