Alba Iulia, Historic fortress town in Alba County, Romania
Alba Iulia is a municipality and county capital in Alba County, Romania, built around an 18th-century star-shaped fortress. The town sits along the Mureș River and includes both the historic citadel and modern residential districts outside the fortifications.
The Romans founded the settlement Apulum here in the 2nd century as a major military camp in Dacia. The fortress was built between 1716 and 1735 following plans by Italian architect Giovanni Morando Visconti, replacing earlier medieval fortifications.
The name Alba Iulia combines the Latin word for white with a Roman founder, reflecting the multilingual past. Visitors see street signs in three languages and can tour both Orthodox and Roman Catholic cathedrals within the fortress walls.
The fortress is open to the public and visitors can walk along the ramparts to get an overview of the layout. Most sights are close together within the walls, making a walking tour easy to manage.
The Coronation Cathedral was the site of the unification of Transylvania with Romania in 1918, an event celebrated every year on December 1st. On this day, official ceremonies and parades take place in the town.
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