Meta Travel

19/02/2026

Today marks the celebration of 150 years since the birth of Romania's most famous artist, Constantin Brancusi, regarded as the most influential sculptor of the 20th century. Born and raised in the south of the country, he went to conquer the world but due to the WW wars and communism he settled in Paris for the rest of his life. His works are spread in several prestigious museums around the world but probably the most iconic one is The Infinity Column in his native town.

I've been a long fan of his work, life and personality, a fascination still alive today by reading books, watching documentaries and studies of his work, including the proud memory to have once spent the night of a New Year with the Column back-to-back, in solitude, just months before its base was forever enclosed by a protective fence.

My hommage to his genius this year is a 2 days special private tour I've planned and organized for both fans and connaiseurs all over the world. It runs all year round, it comprises works, places and infos in detail about Brancusi (including his birth-house and all of his masterpieces), has several extra-bonuses on the road and one way to book it is to check the QR code below. See you on tour!

09/10/2025

In each and every tour at the uber-famous Bran Castle, I gently explain that it is not the Dracula's Castle, as it is advertised by urban myths.
Instead, the true, genuine and proven castle of Vlad the Impaler (the historical source for Dracula) is the much-lesser known Poienari Castle. While it lacks size and awareness, it is situated in the wild, high in the mountains, with views to die for.
In the past years it has been carefully restored and put back on the map of private tours in Romania. And now they managed to rebuild it in 3D:

03/07/2025

I am a die-hard fan of Jules Verne's books since I started reading and as I grew older I've had a reread of the 54 novels every decade (and I still do). There are some famous ubiquitous works but there are also some precious yet less-known gems like "The Steam House" from 1880. That book is one of my absolute favourites and all my life I've only "played the movie" in my head.

Until last Sunday. That day I was touring Sibiu with 3 lovely ladies from Australia, right in the middle of the International Theatre Festival when I heard this big noise coming from around the corner of the Old Town's medieval Square. And then I saw this. Maybe not the elephant in the book, but the cows and the mechanics behind stood the test. I was mesmerized. For 15 minutes I was there in Raj 150 years ago, one of the hindu peasents watching in shock the passing of the steam house, the very same trip.

If you know the book, enjoy the video:

09/10/2024

Not only there are two more fabulous UNESCO protected sites in Romania but one of them is about Constantin Brancusi, finally.
Check the list in the link!
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-world-heritage-26-new-sites-inscribed

24/10/2023

That would have benefficial consequences for more than just Romania and it is something important on so many levels:

A project to create Europe’s largest forested national park aims to protect 100,000 hectares of wilderness as well as boost ecotourism

28/08/2021

(RO)
A doua cea mai mare statuie din Romania care il reprezinta pe Stefan cel Mare este cea de la Podu Inalt din jud. Vaslui, situata exact pe locul celebrei batalii impotriva turcilor de la 10 ianuarie 1475. A fost inaugurata 500 de ani mai tarziu, are 6,90 m si cantareste 19 tone. Aici: https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C4%83t%C4%83lia_de_la_Vaslui
(EN)
Romania's second biggest statue of Stephen the Great (king of Moldova 1457-1504) is the one from Podu' Inalt in Vaslui County, at the very place of the famous battle against turks from January 10, 1475. It was inaugurated 500 years later, it has 6,90 m, weighs 19 tons and it is the work of Mircea Stefanescu. Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vaslui

05/08/2021

The famous Horezu pottery was listed in Unesco World heritage since 2012 but its history goes deep in the romanian history. Here is a splendid piece from the 19th century, displaying the most depicted symbol of this culture: the rooster!

The rooster is the emblem of the ceramic center from Horezu. The rooster comes from the houses around, where it served as a warning: solar guard against the unknown, the symbol of victory, of the victory of light over darkness. Legend has it that "it heralds the disintegration of darkness and measures time, also being the one who awakened people in times when the technique was not so advanced. He announced not only the hours of the night, but also the cleansing of the night space from the hostile forces of man. "

At the same time, the rooster is considered the symbol of the resurrection and immortality of the soul, the emblem of vigilance and pride. The representation of the rooster on the ceramic vessels of Horezu is a varied one, the rooster being rendered in various chromatic ranges and hypostases.

31/07/2021

I have been travelling extensively for the past weeks, touring Romania in every direction, with fantastic people. The summer looks great and this country is just fabulous, from the top of the mountains to the Danube delta, so I will be teasing you with more photos from now on. This here is from one of my favourite medieval fortresses in Transylvania - the Rupea!