Just After the Romanian Revolution, That’s What Romania Looked Like in 1990

The Romanian Revolution was a period of violent civil unrest in Romania during December 1989 as a part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several countries around the world. The Romanian Revolution started in the city of Timișoara and soon spread throughout the country, ultimately culminating in the show trial and execution of longtime Romanian Communist Party (PCR) General Secretary Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena, and the end of 42 years of Communist rule in Romania.

It was also the last removal of a Marxist–Leninist government in a Warsaw Pact country during the events of 1989, and the only one that violently overthrew a country's leadership and executed its leader.

Social and economic malaise had been present in the Socialist Republic of Romania for quite some time, especially during the austerity years of the 1980s. The austerity measures were designed in part by Ceaușescu to repay the country’s foreign debts.

Just after the Romanian Revolution, these amazing photos were taken by Duccio Pugliese that show what Romania looked like in 1990.

Bucharest, 1990

Bucharest railways station, 1990

Bucharest, 1990

Bucharest, 1990

Bucharest, 1990

Bucharest, 1990

Bucharest. Palace of Parliament, 1990

Gypsies of Romania, 1990

Sibiu railway station, 1990

Sibiu railway station, 1990

Sibiu, 1990

Sibiu, 1990

Sibiu, 1990

Sibiu, 1990

Sibiu, 1990

Sibiu. Cinema Pacea, 1990

Sibiu. Free press, 1990

Sibiu. Memorial to the dead of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Piaţa Mare (Large Square), 1990

Sibiu. Nicovala and Glasul, 1990

Sighisoara, 1990

Sighisoara, 1990

Sighisoara, 1990

Sighisoara, 1990

Sighisoara, 1990

Sighisoara. Mother and daughter, 1990

Sighisoara. Pub in Vlad Dracul House, 1990

Sighisoara. Romanian children, 1990 

Transylvania. Road and railways, 1990

(Photo © Duccio Pugliese)