SAINTS fans travelling to Bucharest have the chance to visit the second biggest building in the world.

The Parliament building in Bucharest was hated dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's greatest folly.

Begun in 1984, it initially took 20,000 workers, 7000 architects and uncountable billions of lei to build.

But when the dictator died, only the exterior and three rooms had been finished. Work continues on it to this day.

What is seen from street level on Bulevardul Unirii, is a monolith rising 84m (276ft) above ground level but it is nearly as deep under ground, rumoured to hold a nuclear bunker big enough to contain the entire government.

Inspired by North Korean Communist architecture, which reflected Ceausescu's political leanings, it is 330,000m2 (1,082,677ft2) in area and the second-largest administration building in the world (after the Pentagon).

Intended to house Communist Party offices, ministries and state rooms, it is now the seat of Romania's Parliament and headquarters of the International Conference Centre.

Regular 45-minute guided tours are offered in English.

The lobby's centrepiece is a magnificent crystal chandelier - only one of the palace's 2,800.

At the far end, a pink marble staircase leads to shimmering stained-glass windows.

The largest room, the 16m (52.5ft) high and 2200sq-metre (7218sq-foot) Sala Unirii, has a sliding ceiling, wide enough for a helicopter to enter.

Bulevardul Natiunili Unite

Tel: (01) 311 3611. Fax: (01) 312 0902.

E-mail: cic@camera.ro

Website: www.cdep.ro

Transport: Metro Izvor or Unirii; bus 136 or 385.

Opening hours: Daily 1000-1600.

Admission: US$3.00; US$2.50 (photography fee); US$10.50 (video fee).

ALSO WORTH VISITING...

Piata Revolutiei (Revolution Square)

This spot marks the death of Ceausescu more poignantly than the tombstone above his grave.

On 21 December 1989, 80,000 people thronged the square, supposedly in support of the president after riots in the town of Timisoara.

But when Ceausescu appeared on the balcony of what was then the Central Committee building - now part of the Romanian senate - people began to chant 'Ti-mi-soa-ra, Ti-mi-soa-ra' and the shock on Ceausescu's face pinpointed the true moment of his downfall - a moment televised all over Romania and, later, the world.

Ceausescu and his wife tried to escape in a helicopter from the roof but, being told they were low on fuel, were dropped within the Romanian border, after which they were hastily tried and shot by a firing squad.

Piata Revolutiei

Transport: Metro Universitatii; bus 122, 126, 168, 226, 268, 300 or 368.

Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.

Admission: Free.

Historic Centre

The ramshackle, cobblestone streets between Calea Victoriei, Bulevardul Bratianu, Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta and the River Dmbovita comprise Bucharest's most atmospheric area.

The oldest inn is Hanul lui Manuc at Strada Franceza 62-64, an inexpensive hotel.

Inside the shady court of the inn, overlooked by tall trees and tiered wooden balconies, are several restaurants and an open caf-bar, very popular with young Bucharestis in the summer.

A sweet and lightly alcoholic juice made with wine grapes before proper fermentation is a recommended house speciality.

Muzeul Taranului Roman (Romanian Peasant Museum)

This eclectic collection of peasant relics won 1996's European Museum of the Year award.

The mixture of religious and traditional crafts is so ingeniously displayed - with English texts relating rural functional items to contemporary sculpture - that the exhibition is a work of art in itself.

Soseaua Kiseleff 3

Tel: (01) 212 9661 Fax: (01) 312 9875.

Transport: Metro Piata Victoriei; bus 205 or 300.

Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800.

Admission: US$1; US$4 (photography fee).