 A pro-liberal venue, it was noted for reacting against Urechia's former associate Alecsandri over the latter's conservative views.The "Atheneul Român" society was the nucleus of a country-wide cultural movement, which Urechia claimed was instrumental in establishing both the Romanian Academy (founded 1866) and the Romanian Athenaeum (founded 1888).Urechia's initiative was inspired by his admiration for the Spanish institution "Ateneo de Madrid".