Satu Mare, Romania

The "big town" of Satu Mare hosts a population of just over 100,000 on the Somes River. Historical records place the foundation of the city in the Middle Ages. Because Satu Mare is located close to the borders of Hungary and Ukraine (former USSR) borders, there is an interesting mix of Austro-Hungarian and Socialist architecture. The "historical center" of the city is about one mile long and leads the visitor from the "glorious days" of the 19th and 20th century, to the "glory days" of communist rule.

Because of its proximity to the Hungarian border (ca. 15 km), Satu Mare was an important market town. Today, the economy is based upon industry, service, and transportation. There are quite a number of domestic and foreign-owned (esp. Hungarian and German) industries in food, wood-working, and textiles. There is a major, German-owned, automotive parts factory and an Austrian steel manufacturing plant as well.

Most visitors to Satu Mare come on business or are circumstantial travelers coming from/going to Hungary. For this reason, the number of hotels is limited and most are considered 3-star hotels. There are some good restaurants around Central Park, Piata Nicolae Titulescu and along Strada Decebal, leading to the Administrative Building Square.

List of attractions:

Hotel Dacia, Art Museum in Vecsey Palace, the Fireman's Tower, and the Synagogue on Decebal St. Also fascinating is the "Administrative Building Square" around which is impressive Socialist-period architecture. A note: the grandeur of this square is based on the proximity to the former USSR (ca. 25 km).
(composed 2015 for website of Transylvania Alive Association for Cultural Heritage) 

Central Park and Hotel Dacia (photo Eric De Sena, 2015).