King of the Roma Palaces Romania Bulgaria
51 images Created 15 Oct 2010
Roma of wealth and high standing, often live in sumptuous buildings. Amongst them is the King of the Roma, Florin Cioaba, whose palace is in Sibiu, and who leads a Romanian Christian Centre movement. He is also politically active in European Roma and traveler organisations, and represents 'his people' in Romania and across Europe.
The huge houses of the wealthy Roma have extravagant decorated zinc roofs, and are built like palaces with several floors and balconies, in all different shapes and colors, copying various architectural styles. The town of Buzescu lying to the northwest of Alexandria, south of Bucarest, is a well known home for rich Roma and for its typical Roma Gypsy style architecture, with symbols such as Mercedes Benz emblems, which was once considered the best made car, cockerels and stars. These buildings often take years to build, their occupants or family members working abroad, bringing back money and finishing the structures little by little.
In the past when Roma were largely nomadic, families brought their caravans or wagons with them. Nowadays Roma are mainly sedentary, and the very wealthy Roma are obliged to offer hospitality to whole families of their kin, when big celebrations or events take place, such as weddings or funerals. Visiting families will live across a whole floor of the host's home.
The huge houses of the wealthy Roma have extravagant decorated zinc roofs, and are built like palaces with several floors and balconies, in all different shapes and colors, copying various architectural styles. The town of Buzescu lying to the northwest of Alexandria, south of Bucarest, is a well known home for rich Roma and for its typical Roma Gypsy style architecture, with symbols such as Mercedes Benz emblems, which was once considered the best made car, cockerels and stars. These buildings often take years to build, their occupants or family members working abroad, bringing back money and finishing the structures little by little.
In the past when Roma were largely nomadic, families brought their caravans or wagons with them. Nowadays Roma are mainly sedentary, and the very wealthy Roma are obliged to offer hospitality to whole families of their kin, when big celebrations or events take place, such as weddings or funerals. Visiting families will live across a whole floor of the host's home.