The University House of Iași (Casa Universitarilor din Iași), also known as the Canta House (Casa Canta), is a historic residence in the Copou district of Iași that is now used by Alexandru Ioan Cuza University for dining, meetings, and cultural and academic events.
The house was built around 1800 for Moldavian official Iordache Cantacuzino and was substantially rebuilt in 1840 by his son, Nicolae Cantacuzino, known as Canta. The present appearance largely reflects this 19th-century phase, with a balanced two-storey façade centered on a columned entrance and balcony, framed by restrained Classical decoration. During the early 20th century, the building was used by educational institutions, including the Urban School of Household Management and a domestic science school.
In 1947, the house came under the administration of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași and became a restaurant for university professors, also receiving visiting academics and official guests. The university became the legal owner in 1951, when the building was repaired and extended with a southern wing. It subsequently became a regular setting for meetings and discussions on the history and culture of Iași. After management passed to a private company in 1998, a long legal dispute followed, and the university regained possession of the property in 2015.
A major restoration carried out between 2019 and 2022 included the main house, cellar, annexes, garden, and historic ironwork. The ground floor now contains the Casa Universitarilor restaurant, while the upper floor has rooms for conferences, seminars, training sessions, and cultural events. Restoration work also recovered the building’s decorative façades, terrace balustrade, interior finishes, and cellar, while the landscaped grounds retain mature trees and incorporate a new outdoor terrace.
