Iasi County
Moldova's capital for 300 years where the Palace of Culture's bells play "Hora Unirii" hourly and Romania's first university and newspaper were born.
Iasi County exists because Moldavia needed a capital that could survive Turks, Tatars, Poles, and plague. Prince Alexandru Lapusneanu moved Moldavia's capital from Suceava to Iasi around 1564; the city remained capital until 1862 and served as Romania's wartime capital 1916-1918. Despite sacking by Turks, Tatars, and Poles - even burning to the ground once - and a 1734 plague, Iasi endured as cultural center. In December 2018, it was officially declared Romania's Historical Capital. The Palace of Culture (1906-1925) is the supreme symbol: 268 rooms, 35,000m², a 55m tower, and carillon bells playing "Hora Unirii" every hour. Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (1860) anchored a knowledge economy with five more universities, making Iasi Romania's "Cultural Capital" where the first Romanian newspaper (1829) and first higher education institution (Academia Mihaileanã) appeared. The Hachman Index ranks Iasi third nationally for economic complexity. Six universities, 60+ schools, two theatres, an opera house, and 100 Orthodox churches fill the city of seven hills. Saint Parascheva's remains draw annual pilgrimage. By 2026, IT growth and cultural tourism will drive development while the historical capital identity attracts investment.