What is the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest and why is it significant?

The Palace of the Parliament, also known as the People's House, is a massive government building located in the heart of Bucharest, Romania. It is one of the largest administrative buildings in the world, and is second only to the Pentagon in terms of surface area.

The Palace was commissioned by former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in the 1980s as a symbol of his power and authority. The construction of the Palace was a massive undertaking, with tens of thousands of workers and soldiers forced to work on the project for years on end.

Today, the Palace of the Parliament is open to the public and serves as a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can take guided tours of the building, which include visits to the opulent ceremonial rooms, the underground tunnels and bunkers, and the impressive halls and galleries.

The Palace is also significant for its role in Romanian history. It was built at a time when Ceausescu was attempting to transform Romania into a socialist utopia, and was seen as a symbol of his power and the power of the Communist Party. However, the Palace was completed just as Ceausescu's regime was collapsing, and today it serves as a reminder of the excesses and abuses of his rule.