The rather startling Sala Palatului, with its amazing concaved roof, was designed by Tiberiu Ricci (also responsible for the TVR building) and built over 15 months from January 1959 to April 1960 as an extension of the Royal Palace (to which it is connected). The massive main auditorium, which seats 4,000, was originally used to host the five-yearly congress of the Romanian Communist Party. It today plays host to exhibitions and concerts. To make way for the building, and for the apartment blocks opposite, a 17th century church was demolished: the first of many to fall victim during the communist era remodelling of central Bucharest.