Yet the overwhelming majority of art throughout Romania isn’t found in the galleries and museums, but rather in the market stalls and homes of the Romanian peasants. Here’s a look at some of the iconic everyday creations to keep an eye out for on your artistic tour of Romania.

Wooden church, Maramures, Romania by Cristibur

Ceramic eggs

One of the most recognisable items in Romanian arts and crafts is the iconic painted egg. Particularly popular around Easter, these hollowed-out eggs are transformed into miniature works of art to celebrate the festival of renewal.

Like many of the creative works produced by Romania’s huge peasant communities, the eggs are a symbol of everyday life and interaction, with women and children gathering in a local home to spend the day chatting and painting.

The intricate patterns are thought to have once expressed the secret languages of the regions and today the miniature works of art are still available in the popular markets and street stalls.

Ceramics

The beautiful pottery pieces produced in Romania are predominantly still made on the old-fashioned kick-wheels that have been used for centuries. The different ceramic works of art created across the country also reflect the distinctive artistic flavour of the different regions. The diverse work produced includes interesting geometric creations, animals, people and delicate flowers.

For lovers of pottery some regions of Romania are better suited than others with Horezu, Miercurea-Ciuc and Corund all great examples.

Wood creations

For any travellers with an interest in woodwork creations, the Maramures region is the place to go. Here the homes feature detailed and elaborate sculptured wooden trims, gates and fences.

The “Merry Cemetery” is another place worth of a visit, featuring a range of intricate and hand-made sculptures. The various creations are used to convey the fascinating myths and legends of the local area through items like trees of life, twisted rope and constellations.

Rugs

Romanian rugs offer a fascinating insight into the unique creative style of each distinctive region. Just as every area boasts its own historic relics, castles and attractions, they are also are also home to their distinctive style of rug.

Many take influence from the Ottoman Empire of centuries gone by, featuring the flat-weave kilim style with a mix of traditional vegetable dyed yarns. Head to the Oltenia region and you’ll find rugs displaying the beautiful native fauna and flora, often featuring birds and flowers. Moldavia tends to use branches to represent the tree of life, while Maramures utilise geometric shapes drawing influence from the nearby Turkey Mountains.

Masks

Masks are another style of artwork that can be found on every market corner and reflect the fascinating heritage of Romanian theatre and folk festivals. Most commonly found in Moldavia and Maramures, the masks are created from traditional sheep and cow hides and are decorated using pompoms, feathers, fabric and animal horns.

Keep an eye out over December and early January as they are most commonly worn during the New Year’s celebrations.

Glass

While glass-art dates back to the Roman Empire, it is currently undergoing a revival as a more cosmopolitan art style with Romanian artists famed across the world. Head to the northeast to Botosani to find beautiful hand crafted glass-work.

Written by: Sheryl Lovenkrandz – a freelance blogger who loves to write about travel and accommodation.

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Accommodation

Staying on the outskirts of Venice is generally much cheaper than staying in on the Grand Canal, however the city is small enough to walk around on foot so you won’t be far from the centre of the action. Some of the best budget accommodation can be found in guest houses where the owners pride themselves on providing cheap and clean rooms for as little as £18 a night. Alternatively you can stay in the mainland area of Mestre for a fraction of the cost of a Venice hotel but you may wish to consider transport costs in and out of the city.

Eating Out

Head to the markets for a bit of lunch if you are eating on a budget. There are a number of outdoor markets near Rialto that packed with fresh fruit and veg, delicious breads and pastries and seafood.

If you are eating out in the evening avoid the main tourist squares such as the Piazza San Marco. Here you may be charged by the restaurant just for sitting down, and you can be sure that they will also charge you heavily for the little bowl of bread left on the table. Instead look for the restaurants on the edge of the city, especially if there are locals dining. Try the Trattoria Alle Due Gondolette in the Sestiere Cannaregio for some outstanding local cuisine and seafood for around €12. Portions are big and there is no cover charge either.

Don’t forget that some of the finest pizza and calzone to be found can be purchased from the numerous street stalls around the city. Grab yourself a slice, sit down by the canal and watch the world go by. Even better when followed by some of Venice’s famous gelato!

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Travel

By far the best and cheapest way to travel round Venice are the network of public transport boats known as Vaporetti. You can buy passes for the Vaporetti that are valid for from 12 hours to up to a week depending on how long you are staying. A 12 hour ticket is €16. Just remember to validate your ticket using the machine each time you get on and off the boat or you may be fined by the inspectors. The Vaporetti routes can take you all over the city, down the Grand Canal and even over to the island of Murano where you can watch glass-blowers creating some stunning works of art.

Seeing the Sights

The most wondrous sight in Venice is the Carnival which is celebrated all over the city during the month of February. There are events throughout the city and many of them are free – there’s no need to book one of the over-priced tours that are offered by so many agents. The official Venice website has a downloadable brochure of what’s going on during this special time from masked parades to music.

If you are thinking of visiting some of the famous tourist attractions, how about the Basilica di San Marco which is free? Many of the churches such as the Santa Maria della Salute are also open to visitors and host some amazing artwork and architecture.

And finally…

Even if you’re a hopeless romantic, BlueTrips.co.uk recommends you avoid the gondolas like the plague. You can eat and drink for a couple of days on the cost.. Instead pop a little Vivaldi on your iPod when you’re cruising around on the Vaporetti and I promise you won’t miss out! If you enjoy taking a break near the water, why not have a look at Dongo on the shores of Lake Como, still in Italy?

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