1.The name "Romania" is derived from the Latin word "Romanus," which means "Roman Empire citizen."

2.The Parliament Palace in Bucharest, Romania's capital, is the world's second-largest structure, behind the Pentagon. The structure stands at a height of 84 meters. It is also the world's heaviest structure.

3.Bucharest, like the river that runs through the city, was named after a shepherd named Bucur who was in love with a young lady named Dâmboviţa, according to folklore.

4."Little Paris" is another nickname for Bucharest. The city's Arcul de Triumf was built in 1935 and is inspired after Paris's Arc de Triomphe.

5.The first Homo sapiens fossils were discovered in the Cave of Bones in southeastern Romania in 2002. The age of the fossil is estimated to be between 37,800 and 42,000 years old.

6.Sapanta Peri, in the Maramures region of northwestern Romania, is home to the world's highest wooden church and Europe's second tallest wooden structure. The chapel, which stands 257 feet tall, is topped with a 23-foot cross that weighs 1,000 pounds.

7.Romanian is a 1,700-year-old language.

8.George Emil Palade (medical), Elie Wiesel (peace), Herta Müller (literary), and Stefan Hell (politics) are four Nobel Laureates from Romania (chemistry).

9.The Romanian Revolution of 1989, which abolished Communism, is commemorated with the Memorial of Rebirth monument, which honors the struggles and victims of the revolution.

10.Illycaffè's originator, Francesco Illy, was born in Timisoara, Romania, in 1892. He was also the first to design an automatic steam espresso coffee machine. Peles Castle in Sinaia was the first European castle to be completely illuminated by electricity. The castle's own power plant provided the energy, and the central heating system, which was installed in 1888, is still operational and in use today. Timisoara was the first city in Europe to have electric street lighting in 1889.

11.Calea Victoriei was Bucharest's first road, and it was formerly known as The Wooden Road. Why? It was made up of tree trunks and planks.

12.Romania has the world's 15th-largest rail network, with 22,298 kilometers. Bucharest has Europe's fourth largest public transportation system.

13.In 1976, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci received the first ever perfect ten award in the Olympic Games for her performance on the uneven bars in Montreal.