The open-air gallery “La Rond” in the square of the Stefan cel Mare statue will host an exhibition themed “Vasile Alecsandri, poet and diplomat of the Unificaiton of the Romanian Principalities”.

The event is dedicated to the 125th death anniversary of Alecsandri, “one of the most important authors and political figures of his generation”, the Chisinau-based Institute of Romanian Culture (ICR) said in a press release.

The exhibition is organized in cooperation with the Iasi Museum of Romanian Literature, the National Library of Moldova and the Chisinau Mayor's Office.

Opening on August 26 at 11:00AM, the exhibition is part of the events organized by ICR in late August and early September to celebrate the Romanian Language Day.

Vasile Alecsandri was a Romanian poet, playwright, politician, and diplomat. He collected Romanian folk songs and was one of the principal animators of the 19th century movement for Romanian cultural identity and union of Moldavia and Wallachia. In 1848, he became one of the leaders of the revolutionary movement. With the de facto unification of the Romanian provinces in 1859, he toured the West pleading for the acknowledgment of the newly formed nation.

As an author, Vasile Alecsandri is best known for his poems and plays. He is considered to be a pioneer of Romanian comedy and drama.