Banca Chrissoveloni, Bank building in Old Town, Bucharest, Romania.
Banca Chrissoveloni is a bank building in Old Town Bucharest with two separate entrances, one on Lipscani Street for customers and another on Stavropoleos Street for staff. It has two basement levels containing vaults, a ground floor with customer service counters, and upper floors that held offices and meeting rooms.
Greek banker Zannis Chrissoveloni founded this bank in 1848 after moving from Constantinople to Romania. It grew into a financial institution with multiple branches throughout the region.
The Renaissance design uses marble, stone, and metal throughout, creating an impression of wealth and stability. The Florentine Room stands out with wooden beams and detailed stone flooring that visitors can still see today.
The building sits in a central location in Old Town and is easy to find if you know about both street entrances. Visitors can view the architecture from outside and sometimes from inside, depending on whether access to certain areas is available.
The building featured unusual facilities for its time, including a canteen, a gymnasium with changing rooms, and a barber shop on the upper floors. These amenities show how the bank cared for its employees' well-being.
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