To understand the rhythm of development of Bucharest, we must visualize the Royal Palace and the University Plaza as the center of a series of concentric circles.
The first circle is the Old Town. This area still retains the romantic atmosphere of pre-war Bucharest, when it was called Little Paris, with small, tree-lined streets, elegant villas and small public gardens.
The next circle of expansion is the largest, and comprises most of the residential neighborhoods built during the Communist era. Few historical monuments and buildings have escaped demolition in these areas and they present a rather uniform look, with few redeeming aspects – most of them being parks and public gardens.
The current developing circle is already going beyond the city limits of Bucharest, and heading to the northern areas of Pipera and Baneasa forest. This area comprises mostly office buildings, malls and residential complexes, with almost no architectural or cultural landmarks worth mentioning.
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