Târpeşti: Casa Popa, Sculptures and Archaeology

Casa Popa in Târpeşti is one of the specific cultural destinations for visitors travelling through Ținutul Neamțului. The cultural and archaeological themes in Târpeşti include a historic residential building, naïve artworks, folk-theatre motifs, and an archaeological site.

Culture

Casa cu măști is a residential building constructed by Vasile and Elena Popa in the second half of the 19th century. The house contains masks and costumes by Neculai and Elena Popa intended for performances at Christmas and New Year. It also contains naïve wood and stone sculptures. The festival-related pieces retain a connection to performances, while the artworks represent different materials and forms within the same collection.

For those interested in culture, the particular emphasis lies on the connection between residential architecture, masks, costumes, and naïve art. The house and the performance objects preserved inside it therefore form part of a cultural complex in which architecture, festival tradition, and sculpture come together.

Sculptures and Folk Theatre

Since the beginning of the 1970s, Curtea cu sculpturi has been an open-air exhibition featuring wood and stone works by the naïve artist Neculai Popa. The works range from 1 to 2.5 m in height and include wood and stone pieces. In addition to the variety of materials, the dating from the beginning of the 1970s and the different heights of the works give the collection a clearly identifiable historical and spatial dimension.

Access to Curtea cu sculpturi is through a monumental gate made of carved oak. Approximately 23 human figures are integrated into the gate. The entrance structure combines woodworking with a distinctly figurative design, creating its own focal point within the collection right at the entrance.

Neculai Popa's stone sculptures draw on themes from folk theatre. The subjects mentioned include Împăratul Irod and Iancu Jianu. In addition to the materials used, wood and stone, the selection of folk-theatre themes therefore also plays a recognisable role in his work. The names of the two subjects point to the thematic focus of the stone works without limiting the collection to a single motif.

Archaeology

For 2026, the archaeological site of Târpești–Râpa lui Bodai is assigned the phases Precucuteni II, Precucuteni III, and Cucuteni A. These three phases form the focus of the site's chronological classification. Alongside Casa Popa's historical and artistic associations, archaeology therefore has its own distinct place among the themes of Târpeşti.

Regional Surroundings

The wider regional surroundings of Târpeşti include the monasteries Mânăstirea Secu, Schitul Sâhăstria, and Mănăstire Bistriţa. BISERICA CATOLICA COZMESTI, a church, is also located in this wider regional area. These religious sites form a distinct regional area of interest alongside Casa cu măști, Curtea cu sculpturi, and the archaeological site.

The hills in the wider regional surroundings of Târpeşti include Dealul Neamţului, Dealul Almaşului, and Dealul Boroaia. Dealul Mare Văratecul is a hill in the surroundings of Târpeşti.

Other places on the same destination level are Târgu Neamţ, Dumbrava Roșie, Tupilaţi, Pipirig, Hangu, Văratec, Roman, and Trifești.

For the higher-level travel overview: Neamt.