Ceaușescu’s mansion

The mansion of former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, Palatul Prima˘verii (50 Prima˘verii Blvd., Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania; phone +40 213 180 989 http://palatulprimaverii.ro [in Romanian only]), opened for public tours on March 12.

Sitting on a 3½-acre property in Bucharest, the 80-room mansion was designed by Ceaușescu and his wife in the 1960s. It houses a cinema, wine cellar and many luxury bathrooms and has a large garden.

Palatul Primăverii is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Wed.-Sun., and can be visited only on a tour. Tours in English cost RON45 (near $11.50) and must be booked in advance.