Stairs Passage (Pasajul Scarilor)

The Stairs Passage (Pasajul Scarilor) is one of Sibiu's most distinctive pieces of medieval urban fabric — a covered stone stairway that cuts down through the retaining wall between the Upper Town and the Lower Town, its roofline of red tiles visible from Piata Mica above. It dates to the 13th century and is remarkably intact.

The passage is dark and slightly atmospheric even on a sunny day. Locals use it as a shortcut; tourists photograph it. The view back up toward the Iron Bridge from the bottom of the stairs, with the covered walkway framing the sky, is one of the most characteristic images of the city.

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A story
The passage was built in the 13th century as a secret exit from the upper city — a narrow, covered staircase that allowed defenders to move between the levels of the fortification without being visible from outside. The passage appears in medieval records as a route used by night watchmen, tax collectors, and — more than once — by people sneaking in and out of the city after curfew.