things to see and to do

Due to its beauty, Timişoara was called either "the city of flowers" or "the city of forests". This city prides itself with its elegant baroque squares, churches of many faiths, new German and French libraries and a pedestrian only, downtown. In 1869 year it becomes the first city in Europe where the horse-pulled tram was used for public transportation. In 1884, Timişoara becomes the first European city to be lit electrically (there still is a street lampin front of Banat Museum that reminds of this event). Timişoara is an excellent place to wind down.

Museums

The museum colection of the Orthodox Metropolitan Seat of Banat
9, 30 Decembrie Street; profile: clerical art
The collections include worship items, silver ware and costumes, icons painted on wood and on glass (XVI-XIX Th centuries), iconostases, altars, manuscripts, ancient Romanian books. The wooden church from Batesti – Faget (XVIII Th century), representative for the folk architecture in Banat, is preserved in the yard.
The musem of the Roman Catholic Bishopric
2, Matei Corvin Street; profile: history of the church
Collections including historical items, documents, maps, pieces of furniture, ancient art and worship items, depicting the religious life in Banat. The collections are exhibited in the Episcopal palace (1743-1752), the residence of the Roman Catholic bishop since 1783.
The museum collection of the Seerbian Orthodox Church Locum Tenens 4, Unirii Square; profile: clerical art
Collection of Icons and clerical paintings, furniture and ancient books.
The collection of the Orthodox Cathedral
Politehnicii Blvd.; profile: clerical art
Starting from 1971, the collection of icons, silver ware, documents, furniture and ancient books are exhibited inside the cathedral that had been built between 1936 and 1946 (Ion Traianescu, architect, An. Demian, artist).
The Village Museum
In here one may admire houses with a verandah supported by beautifully carved wooden pillars, ancient houses thatched with straws, potters houses, etc. The museum provides its visitors with a wide range of services:guides, a folk object shop, magazines, post cards, etc. Folk shows are periodically organized.
The Romanian Opera House
2, Marasesti Street. As a public institution, the Opera in Timişoara has had the direct benefit of state subsidies. Thus, from the beginning they were able to stage operas like "Traviata" and "Rigoletto" by Verdi, "La Bohème" and "Tosca" and "Gianni Schicchi" by Puccini, "Evgheni Oneghin" and " Lady of Hearts" by Tchaikovsky, "Carmen" by Bizet, "Cavalleria rusticana" by Mascagni, which were followed along the seasons by new titles of international opera creations and Romanian works.

Theatres

Timişoara is a town with a great tradition in theatre. Having a population of mixed nationalities there are three theatre companies, all functioning in the same building. The National Theatre has representations in Romanian. The State German Theatre has representations in German. The 'Csiky Gergely' Theatre has representations in Hungarian.