The Iași National Theatre — formally the Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre, named for the Romanian playwright and poet born in the city — is the oldest national theatre in Romania, founded in 1840. The current building dates from the late 19th century and is a handsome Neo-Baroque structure on the main boulevard, next to the Romanian National Opera. Together the two buildings form the cultural centrepiece of the city.
The theatre produces a full season of drama, and tickets are inexpensive by Western European standards. Even if you cannot attend a performance, the foyer and exterior are worth a look. Vasile Alecsandri himself was a central figure in the Romanian national revival of the 19th century; his work helped establish modern Romanian as a literary language, and the theatre remains a symbol of that tradition. The building was restored in the early 21st century and looks well.