Alley of Classics
Open-air sculpture walk of bronze writers' busts on red granite plinths in Chișinău's central park.
The idea of lining the central walk of Chișinău's public garden with portrait busts was put forward in the 1930s by the sculptor Alexandru Plămădeală, but it was realised only on 29 April 1958. Twelve bronze busts were unveiled then, each cast at about one and a half times life size and raised on a polished red granite plinth: Dimitrie Cantemir, Nicolae Milescu Spătarul, Gheorghe Asachi, Constantin Stamati, Constantin Negruzzi, Alexandru Donici, Alexandru Hâjdeu, Alecu Russo, Vasile Alecsandri, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, Ion Creangă and Mihai Eminescu.
After 1989 the alley was extended with further writers, among them Tudor Arghezi, Lucian Blaga, George Bacovia, George Coșbuc, Mircea Eliade, Mihail Sadoveanu, Nichita Stănescu, Constantin Stere, George Călinescu and Ion Luca Caragiale, bringing the ensemble to about thirty busts. It sits in the Ștefan cel Mare public garden, laid out in the 1810s and the oldest park in the city; nearby stands the bust of Pushkin raised in 1885. The alley is a listed monument and a customary setting for literary commemorations.
Highlights
- Twelve original bronze busts unveiled on 29 April 1958
- Busts cast at about one and a half times life size
- Extended after 1989 to around thirty Romanian writers
- Set in the city's oldest public garden, laid out in the 1810s
