The Theodor Costescu Cultural Palace (Theatre and library)

 theatre, library, listed building / architectural heritage, cultural center / centre, 19th century construction

The great edifice was designed by architect Grigore Cerchez. Theodor Costescu, director of the famous "Traian" high-school in the city, having been elected president of the "Theater of Turnu Severin" society, managed in just a few days to cover the entire bond subscription necessary to finish the construction of the theater. Work on the site began in 1912 and ... November 30th 1924 was a very happy day. The important building – partially finished – was officially opened .
The I.G. Bibicescu Library are first editions, deluxe editions, ex libris editions and many encyclopedic works. Among the oldest works, one can mention “Octoihul” by Coresi (Brasov, 1575) and “Carte romaneasca de invatatura” or “Cazania lui Varlaam” (Iasi, 1643). It contains almost all the titles of books from Barncoveanu's period, among which “Biblia de la Bucuresti” (1688). The foreign works, more than 200 rare books, start with “Orationes graece” by Aristide Aelius (Florenza, 1517) and continue with first editions published by famous publishing houses like Elzevir, Plantin and later on Didot. Under the printing emblem of the last, the library contains Pierre Corneille's work, the edition of 1795- 1796 in 10 volumes, with Voltaire's commentaries, edition which had only 25 issues.