MOUNT TAMPA

Brasov is often referred to as "the city at the foot of Mount Tampa". Tampa is the natural landmark of Brasov and it can be seen from every corner of the city. It is 900m above see level high and it has a large TV transmitter antenna on top. It is actually in the middle of Brasov, making a clear division between the old medieval part of the city and the new one, made up of concrete blocks of flats. You can have the best view of Brasov from the top of Mount Tampa. You can reach it by cable car (called Telecabina) or walking up one of the few paths twisting up the hill. Walking to the top takes about an hour from the cable car station from Brediceanu Alley. The hiking trail is low difficulty level nonetheless, but it is recommended in snowless seasons only. You'll clearly be able to make out the different parts of Brasov: the German part of town has hundreds of red roofs crammed between straight streets surrounding Piata Sfatului, while the Romanian Schei district to the south is a spaghetti of small streets, jumbled houses and cemeteries, petering out towards the hills. On the plain are the later additions to Brasov: the 18th and 19th century expansions and of course the flats and huge factories from the last 50 years. The top of Tampa also provides a stunning view of the surrounding mountains. From here, it's very tempting to walk across the crests of the hills to Poiana Brasov, a very attractive ski resort located 12km from Brasov in the Prahova Valley.