The Statue of Gheorghe Asachi (Statuia lui Gheorghe Asachi) is a white-marble monument in front of the Gheorghe Asachi Primary School in central Iași, commemorating the scholar, educator, writer, and cultural reformer who helped establish modern Romanian-language education in Moldavia.
Created by sculptor Ion Georgescu from Carrara marble, the monument depicts Asachi seated in an armchair, wearing a long mantle and holding a quill and documents. Its pedestal bears a dedication from the Romanian schools to their first teacher, while two sculpted reliefs illustrate his contributions to education. One shows him presenting flower wreaths to pupils of the Vasilian Gymnasium, with the Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery in the background. The other portrays Asachi presenting Prince Mihail Sturdza with plans for the Mihăileană Academy, founded in 1835.
The statue was unveiled on October 14, 1890, beside Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery, near the school Asachi had established in 1828. In 1897, it was transferred to the front of the National Theater in recognition of his pioneering work in Romanian-language theater, including organizing a performance in Iași in 1816. It was moved again in 1905, this time to the newly completed school building, where it has stood ever since.
The monument also serves as the tomb of Gheorghe Asachi and his wife Elena, whose remains were transferred from their original burial places and interred beneath its pedestal. This gives the statue a funerary purpose alongside its commemoration of Asachi’s contributions to Romanian education and culture.
