The Paharnicului House (D. Gheorghiadis)

The Stânişoara Mountains constitute a well-individualized unit within the Piatra-Neamţ city, including only their southern extremity. The main peak has a general NW-SE orientation, consistent with the geological structure. Marls, clayey and disodilic shales predominate here, sometimes covered by loessoid deposits. The same geological structure can be found on the Cârloman hill, the western extension of Cozla. The maximum altitude reaches 806 m in Prihodiște Peak.

In an isolated rock, in the high area of the Cozla hill, three round hollows with a diameter of about 60 cm are excavated. Their origin has not met the consensus, considering that we are facing either a karst or periglacial phenomenon, or with the character of aeolian marmites formed by the long action of the winds. Alexandra, the author of the blogdecalatorii.ro, described this place like this "... we arrived at ”Trei căldări” Rock 30 minutes after entering the route. I found it much bigger than I expected and very interesting. It is a sandstone monolith in which 3 erosion marmites were formed over time, also called the caldrons of the giants." We mention that the "Trei Căldări" rock is a monument of nature, part of the geological reserve of eolian marnites. Any intentional damage to it is punishable by law, as the area is often frequented by local rangers.

Porcului lake on Cozla hill is actually a small pond fed by the rains, where the animals of the forest water. Deer tracks can often be seen on the shore, but wild boars are most likely to come here as well. Most likely from them comes the name of the lake. This lake is surrounded by a beautiful beech forest and is located on the approved route "Three Căldări" from Piatra-Neamț. Photo via www.bloguldecalatorii.ro 

The idea of building the "Nativity of the Mother of God" Church - Precista II or The New Precista - in Piatra-Neamț appeared since 1991, considering the insufficiency of the liturgical space at the Church of the ”Assuption of the Mother of God" (Precista I or The Old Precista), inadequate for the multitude of believers present at services on Sundays and holidays. In 1993, the steps to obtain the site began, in the small park at the intersection of Decebal and Emil Costinescu streets. The consecration of the place was done by Father Archimandrite Ciprian Zaharia on May 12, 1995, together with a council of priests and numerous parishioners. On June 9, 2019, on the 7th Sunday after Easter, the place of worship was consecrated by three hierarchs of the Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church: IPS Father Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bucovina, IPS Father Ioachim, Archbishop of Romania and Bacău and PS Father Calinic Botoșanean, then Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Iasi. On this occasion, Father Dumitru Ailincăi, parish priest of the Precista II community, received from His Beatitude Father Patriarch Daniel, as a sign of gratitude for the entire activity carried out in the parish, the "Patriarchal Cross" for clergy, the highest distinction within the Romanian Patriarchate. The current capacity of the church is approximately 650 people.

The sanctification of the church took place on March 25, 1999, being done in the presence of a numerous council of priests, led by Archpriest Dumitru Ailincăi, together with Ciprian Zaharia, the abbot of the Bistrița Monastery and exarch of the places of worship throughout Neamț county.  The locals describe this place as "the church from the train station", because it is located near the Train Station, but also the starting point of the cable car from Piatra-Neamț.

The Central Market in Piatra-Neamț has been completely rebuilt after a fire severely affected it in 2014. It is modern, spacious and offers visitors a lot of fresh products from local producers (and not only).

The Pietricica Monastery bears the titular saint "Transfiguration in the Face of God" and is a monastery of monks founded in 1994. The community consists of 6 believers, the abbot being Father Neofit Amariea.

The radio-television relay on the top of Pietricica Mountain was built in the 50s and serves as a signal for the eastern part of Neamț county. It cannot be visited, but it is worth getting here especially for the view.

The Pietricica mountain, a solitary height that characterizes the entire area of ​​the city, is a huge geological relic, a remnant of a salted and overturned fold that dates back to the Paleogene of the flysch, accumulates all the formations specific to this region, including Oligocene layers with rich fossil deposits. Its maximum altitude is 590m. "... the peak of Pietricica, this imposing massif of rock which, according to some, gave the name of the settlement where we are. Pietricica does not really encourage the locals, nor the foreigners of this settlement, to visit it, because of the roughness of the slopes, the bareness of the rocks and the lack of greenery - as it appears to those who look at it from the city." described the writer Victor Nămolaru in the book "Small tourist guide to Piatra-Neamț", published in 1969, at a time when vegetation was quite absent. But things have changed in the meantime! The same author continued: "Tourists who still want to get to know it better and visit it, have nothing to regret. The panorama that opens before the eyes includes, from the top, the imposing creation of nature - the Ceahlău mountain, the Bistriței valley, the surrounding hills, all the way to the plain. We point out to the visitors, on the Bistrița side of the hill, the existence of a small cave – The cell of of the Monk, as well as the Pit of Stephen the Great, from where the soldiers of the great voivode announced, with lit fires, the approach of danger."  Indeed, the peak and plateau of Mount Pietricica, a symbol of the city, are not to be missed. Access is easy, by car, and the view is truly impressive, especially at sunset. We say it one more time in capital letters: IT IS NOT TO BE MISSED!