Romania city of Timisoara becomes European Capital of Culture in 2023

Two years later than initially decided European Council designates Timisoara as the European Capital of Culture. Because of coronavirus, the European Council decided to postpone electing a new capital of culture and allow for the current European capitals of culture Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland) to maintain their title until 2023. The two cities will allowed to carry on with respective activities for this year under COVID limitations. The two will keep their title until April 2021, writes Cristian Gherasim.

Also Novi Sad, which should have been European Capital of Culture in 2021, will most likely take up its title in 2022, followed by Timisoara (Romania) and Elefsina (Greece) in 2023.

Novi Sad is the second largest city in Serbia and a real melting pot for various ethnicities. Alongside Serbians, many, Hungarians, Slovaks, Croatians, Romanians, Montenegrins and Roma call Novi Sad their home. The city is nicknamed the Serbian Athens, a name it got in the 19^th century when Novi Sad became an important center of trade and manufacturing.

Timisoara is best associated with the birthplace of the Romania revolution of 1989. Some of the protestors of 1989 died in the plaza in front of the Timisoara Opera house. Yet the protests then spread unabated, causing the communist dictatorship under Nicolae Ceausescu to fall.

Elefsina in Greece is a place of wonder and myth best associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries, special rituals dedicated to the ancient Greek gods Demeter and Persephone. Elefsina is best recounted as one of the most important religious center of its time.

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