The home of the National Savings Bank (Casa de Economii si Consemnaţiuni; CEC) is one of the most fabulous Neo-Classical facades in the city: the enormous arch that houses the entrance, with its mighty Corinthian columns, is a highlight of any architectural tour of Bucharest. Built during the last decade of the 19th-century, to the designs of French architect Paul Gottereau, the building is no less impressive on the inside, not least the huge entrance hall with its sensational glass roof, and dome that nods towards the style of later Byzantine cathedrals. The main halls are elaborately decorated with murals by Mihai Simonidi.
