The Macca-Villacrosse Passage (Pasajul Macca-Villacrosse) is a narrow fork-shaped street that is covered by a glass arcade. The passage connects Victory Avenue via two entrances with Strada Eugeniu Carada in the historic Lipscani district of central Bucharest.
The history of the Macca-Villacrosse Passage goes back to the end of the 19th century, a time of great prosperity during which many important banks and other institutions settled their headquarters in the center of Bucharest, around Strada Lipscani. Since Calea Victoriei was the main street of the city, the idea was born to make a shortcut to the old town to reduce congestion.
For the passageway to be created, three buildings needed to be demolished. The owners of the two outer buildings, Macca and Villacrosse, agreed to sell, but the building in the middle was a successful inn called the Pesht Hotel, which the owner refused to sell. Hence two small entrances were created on Calea Victoriei which resulted in the fork-shaped passage around the old inn.
The Macca-Villacrosse Passage was designed by the architect Filip Xenopol and opened in 1891. The Bucharest Stock Exchange was based here for a while as well, until it moved to the new Stock Exchange Palace. Nowadays several cafes, bars, and shisha lounges are located in the beautiful passage.
