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The city is one of the oldest in Romania. According to tradition it was founded early in the 14th century by Prince Radu Negru , succeeding Cāmpulung as capital of Wallachia. Hence its name Curtea (The Court). It contains a few antique churches, and was created a bishopric at the close of the 18th century.
The cathedral of Curtea de Arges, by far the most famous building in Romania, stands in the grounds of a monastery, 11/2 m north of the city. It resembles a very large and elaborate mausoleum, built in Byzantine style, with Moorish arabesques. In shape it is oblong, with a many-sided annexe at the back. In the centre rises a dome, fronted by two smaller cupolas, while a secondary dome, broader and loftier than the central one, springs from the annexe. Each summit is crowned by an inverted pear-shaped stone, bearing a triple cross, emblematic of the Trinity.
The windows are mere slits; those of the tambours (the cylinders on which the cupolas rest) are curved and slant at an angle of 70 degrees, as though the tambours were leaning to one side. Between the pediment and the cornice a thick corded moulding is carried round the main building. Above this comes a row of circular shields, adorned with intricate arabesques, while bands and wreaths of lilies are everywhere scupltured on the windows, balconies, tambours and cornices, adding lightness to the fabric. It is all raised on a platform 7 ft. high and encircled by a stone balustrade.
Facing the main entrance is a small open shrine, consisting of a cornice and dome upheld by four pillars. The cathedral is faced with pale grey limestone, easily chiselled but hardening on exposure. The interior is of brick, plastered and decorated with frescoXIV Century fresco featuring Saint Sebastian Note: Fresco is the NATO reporting name of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. In painting, the term fresco (pl. frescoes comes from the Italian phrase buon fresco ("really fresh") a technical term in opposition to ines. Close by stands a large royal palace, Moorish in style. The archives of the cathedral were plundered by HungariansThe Republic of Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. It is known locally as the Country of the Magyars or Magyarorszag''. Magyar Koztarsasag ( In Detail) ( Full s and TurksOsmanlı İmparatorluğu Devlet-i Aliye-i Osmaniye The Ottoman Coat of Arms Imperial motto: unknown The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople) Sovereigns Sultans, but several inscriptions, Greek, Slav and Roman, are left.
One tablet records that the founder was Prince Neagoe BasarabNeagoe Basarab was the ruler of Wallachia between 1512 and 1521. Neagoe Basarab and his son Theodosie greek icon from the Dionysiou Monastery Born in the boyar family of the Craiovesti as the son of Basarab cel Tanar ("the young"), Neagoe Basarab was a wi ( 1512Events April 11 Battle of Ravenna. French forces under Gaston de Foix, Duc de Nemours defeat the Spanish under Raymond of Cardona, but Gaston is killed in the pursuit. November 1 The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is exhibited to- 1521Events January 3 Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther. January 28 Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. March 6 Ferdinand Magellan discovers Guam. March 16 Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Philippines. April 7 Ferdinand Magellan arrives at Cebu.); another that Prince Ioan Radu completed the work in 1526Events January 14 Treaty of Madrid. Peace between Francis I of France and Charles V. Francis agrees to cede Burgundy to Charles, and abandons all claims to Flanders, Artois, Naples, and Milan. May 22 Francis repudiates the Treaty of Madrid and forms the L; a third describes the repairs executed in 1681 by Prince Serban Cantacuzino; a fourth, the restoration, in 1804, by Joseph, the first bishop. Between 1875 and 1885 the cathedral was reconstructed, and in 1886 it was reconsecrated.