Romania showcased as European cultural-religious destination at Cotroceni Palace exhibition
An exhibition titled “Romania – A Leading European Cultural and Religious Destination,” dedicated to Europe Day, opened on Thursday at Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest. For the first time, the Basilica News Agency displayed photographs at an event organised by the presidential administration.
The exhibition was organised on the occasion of Europe Day in partnership with the Romanian Patriarchate — through the Church Painting Commission and Basilica News Agency — together with the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO and the National Museum of Bukovina.
Opening Remarks
Ramona Dinu, State Counsellor for Corporate Governance and Tourism, noted in her opening address that the exhibition brings together “photographs of churches and monasteries, especially those included on the UNESCO World Heritage list,” alongside icons awarded in the National Competition “Orthodox Icon – The Light of Faith.”
Ramona Dinu, State Counsellor for Corporate Governance and Tourism, delivered an opening speech at the exhibition hosted by the Cotroceni Palace on Thursday, 07.05.2026. Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene.
The state counsellor explained that Romania’s cultural and religious heritage reflects “faith, respect for tradition, solidarity within communities and an inclination towards artistic beauty” — values she described as fundamental to Romanian society.
“The churches, monasteries, religious paintings and icons displayed here today are living expressions of our collective identity and, moreover, possess the virtue of ensuring the continuity of that identity. They can also become an important engine of economic development through tourism,” she said.
Ramona Dinu also highlighted growing interest in cultural and religious tourism:
“Visitors who discover Romanian spirituality and heritage are searching for authenticity, the memory of things and meaning,” she said, adding that cultural and religious heritage can become “a resource for sustainable prosperity.”
Art and Spirituality
Archdeacon Nicolae Iftimiu, coordinating patriarchal counsellor and director of the Basilica News Agency, highlighted the significance of the event:
“We are celebrating Europe Day in a cultural and anticipatory manner, an occasion to recall the efforts of entire generations of cultural figures and statesmen from across our continent.”
Archdeacon Nicolae Iftimiu, coordinating patriarchal counsellor and director of the Basilica News Agency, highlighted the connection between Romanian spiritual heritage and European cultural identity. Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu.
The patriarchal counsellor emphasised the connection between Romania’s spiritual heritage and European cultural identity, recalling the historical role of Romanian ecclesiastical foundations.
“The convergence of art and spirituality within the stone walls of a church or monastery transformed these places of worship into genuine centres of inspiration and balance for our people.”
During his address, Archdeacon Nicolae Iftimiu also referred to the future role of the National Cathedral of Romania in “strengthening Romania’s position as a leading European cultural and religious destination.”
The director of Basilica News Agency thanked the Presidential Administration and the collaborators involved in organising the exhibition, stressing that all initiatives were carried out with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, “who encourages synergy and collaboration at every level in support of authentic Romanian values.”
Photos exhibited by Basilica News Agency photojournalists Raluca Ene and Mircea Florescu at the Cotroceni National Museum. Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene.
Exhibition Photography
The exhibition features images captured by Basilica News Agency photojournalists Raluca Ene and Mircea Florescu, presenting representative monuments of Romania’s spiritual and cultural heritage. Alongside the photographs, the Church Painting Commission of the Romanian Patriarchate displayed icons and miniatures in the gallery.
Among the photographs exhibited are images of Curtea de Argeș Monastery, Stavropoleos Monastery, Kretzulescu Church, Sâmbăta de Sus Monastery, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timișoara and the wooden churches of Ieud, several of which are included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
“I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to my fellow photographers, who today present, in physical format, only a very small part of the vast digital archive they continually enrich — an archive that can be explored in full on the Basilica News Agency website and across social media, under the slogan ‘The good to know’,” Archdeacon Nicolae Iftimiu concluded.
Two of the photographs on display, which capture the Krețulescu Church in Bucharest and the Hadâmbu Monastery in Iași County. Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu.
In the first part of the event hosted by Cotroceni Palace, the Conference “The European Union’s Dialogue with Churches and Religious Communities in Europe” was organised.
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
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