Part 3

Iasi was the first among the capitals of the Romanian provinces where, on March 27, 1848, began the innovating movement which was to mark the beginning of the revolution whose main aim was social and national liberty.

After 1848, Iasi became the centre of the unionist movement, offering the whole country a brilliant example of firmness and patriotic enthusiasm. On January 5, 1859, in spite of the opposition raised by the old regime representatives, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected. Cuza, a veteran of 1848, was also elected in Wallachia; his inauguration on 24 January 1859 began a new epoch in our history. Iasi has the merit of being the cradle of the Union, of giving an enthusiastic example of devotion for generous ideas, a devotion which our history has recorded with justified gratitude.

The University named after Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Prince of the Union, was established in 1860 as the first modern higher education institution in Romania.

On the Copou Hill stands the monumental University Palace, inaugurated in 1897, which still hosts the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University; in the neighborhood are the "Mihai Eminescu" Central University Library, the "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University, the "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agronomical Studies, the "Grigore T.Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the "George Enescu" University of Fine Arts.

They complete the image of Iasi as a university citadel with almost 30 thousand students.