80 kilometers from Sibiu is one of the oldest cities in Romania, located in Transylvania. Alba Iulia is comfortably situated in the Mureș River valley, 270 km from the Romanian capital. In 2021, the city's population was 66,000 people, and the city covers an area of 10,365 square kilometers. The settlement on the site of the modern city has been known since the time of the Dacian state. The Romans, who turned these lands into a province of their great empire, established a military camp here and named it Apulum. The fortress played an important defensive role. Today, its remains can be seen 10 km from Alba Iulia. One of the Roman legions guarding the gold mines and the road by which the precious metal was transported to the Roman Empire was stationed in the fortress. Since the 11th century, another name for this city has appeared in chronicles - Belgrade, in some sources Balgrad. When Transylvania became part of the Kingdom of Hungary, today's city was called Gyulafehérvár. From those times, one of the city's attractions is the Catholic cathedral, contemporary with the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The Romanian temple was partially rebuilt under Voivode John Hunyadi, who was later buried here. From the 16th century, the city became the capital of Transylvania, and fifty years later, it became the main city of the three Romanian principalities united for a short time: Wallachia, Moldova, and Transylvania. This happened under the ruler Michael the Brave, whose residence was the Princes' Palace in Alba Iulia, which has not survived to this day. In the 18th century, Transylvania was part of the possessions of the Habsburg Imperial Court, the rulers of Austria and later Austria-Hungary. By decree of Charles VI, a fortification in the shape of a huge star was built here. The fortress occupied 70 hectares and had seven bastions and three-meter walls. A wide moat was dug around the construction, which has been turned into a park today. The fortress could be entered through several gates. At that time, the city was renamed in honor of the Austrian emperor, becoming Karlsburg. At the end of the 18th century, the first Romanian public library was opened in Alba Iulia. The local archbishop from the Báthory family made a significant contribution, and the library bears his name today. Alba Iulia, being a simple city and then the capital of Transylvania, always played an important political role in the country. In 1918, the unification of Transylvania with Romania was announced here. This event took place on December 1, which is why this day is a national holiday in Romania. At that time, numerous delegations from different parts of Transylvania gathered in the city. A large assembly took place, making this important decision for the entire country. Here, in the castle of the Transylvanian princes, the Romanian King Ferdinand I, who ruled from 1922 to 1927, was crowned. For the festive ceremony, an Orthodox cathedral was built in the center of Alba Iulia, near the Catholic cathedral. Here, the coronation of Ferdinand I and his wife Maria took place. This event marked the beginning of the construction of Orthodox churches throughout Transylvania. Another significant event took place in Alba Iulia in the 20th century. In 1928, the congress of the National Peasant Party was held here, declaring itself the defender of Romanian peasants. It is known that the main party leaders wore traditional peasant shoes and long uncolored cloth coats even to important receptions with the king. Since ancient times, due to the mild climate and fertile soil, the area of Alba Iulia has become a leading winemaking region. Here, full-bodied dry and sweet wines are produced from maximally ripe grape varieties such as Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală, Italian Riesling, and Pinot Gris. The region has several dozen wineries, most of which offer wine tasting tours and the opportunity to buy favorite varieties. Here are some interesting wineries — Crama Jidvei, Crama Telna, Savu Winery, Domeniul Ciumbrud. Alba Iulia reached its peak in the 16th–17th centuries, becoming the capital of the independent Principality of Transylvania and the residence of the Transylvanian princes. The 18th-century Alba Carolina Fortress is the main tourist attraction and dominant feature of the city. It was built during the Austro-Hungarian period in the shape of a seven-pointed star and surrounded by a moat. The fortress served as a strategic fortification of the Habsburg Empire in the war against the Ottoman Empire. Inside the fortress, besides the fortifications and numerous monuments, several cathedrals have been preserved. The Coronation Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1922 after the union of Transylvania with Romania. The cathedral stands out for its bell tower and frescoes depicting historical figures such as Michael the Brave. There is also a Catholic cathedral — Saint Michael's (Catedrala Romano-Catolică Sfântul Mihail) built in the 13th century with the highest bell tower in Romania, measuring 81 meters. The cathedral is designed in the early Gothic style, with many frescoes and a 19th-century organ inside. The cathedral looks majestic, and its bell tower in the Italian Renaissance style strongly resembles Italian cathedrals. Near the main entrance to the fortress is the Fortress Park (Parc Cetate) with a monument in honor of the Great Union — the event that united all Romanian territories. The Union Museum — the main museum of history and archaeology of the city — occupies a building constructed at the end of the 19th century. The exhibition includes many household items, weapons, and archaeological finds.