Despite not being the most popular tourist destination, Moldova’s proximity to the city of Iasi, where I spent 7 months as an Erasmus student, made it an interesting destination to spend a weekend.
The country itself offers a really interesting mix of cultures. This is due to the fact that, despite it was originally a region belonging to Romania, however, also had a big Soviet influence, since it was part of the USSR until its dissolution in 1991.
Almost 10 years have passed since I visited it for the first time, and I must admit that I have good memories, in addition to that, it was here, when I decided, to learn something of the Russian language, since for the first time in my life I visited a country whose alphabet was different from Latin. Let me introduce you my Top 5 in the city.
Date of the visit: 2010, 2011, 2012
- Great National Assembly Square
It is the very city center. The main street, and the main administrative buildings are surrounding this place.
The square itself has two parts, a park (called the Cathedral Park) and an esplanade where an administrative building is located, both separated by the main avenue of the city (will refer about it later).
In the park, there are the following monuments:
Nativity (Metropolitan) Cathedral
Built in 1830 in a neoclassical style, it is a peculiar religious building, since the bell tower is separated from the rest of the temple. This is because the building was bombed during World War II, and, in addition to the fact that religious worship was prohibited during the communism, the original bell tower was destroyed in 1967. During this period, the building was used as a centre of exhibitions.
It was not until 1997 when a new bell tower was built, which can be found right in the center of the square. The day of the visit there was a wedding, so we could not access the interior.
Arch of Triumph
Despite not being as impressive as the homonymous monuments of Paris or Bucharest, the Arch of Triumph is one of the symbols of the city, and its figure (with its clock) dominates the square.
It was built to commemorate the victory of the Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century.
On the esplanade, there is a parking lot that serves the Government house administrative building.
Government House
This building is a typical example of Soviet-influenced architecture. Currently, it houses the headquarters of the government of the country.
- Stephen the Great (Ștefan cel Mare) Monument and Park
Stephen the Great (Ștefan cel Mare) is the most important historical figure in Moldova. He was a prince who lived in the 15th century, and was known for his resistance against the Ottomans, as well as for his many victories. It is said that every time Stephen the Great won a battle, he threw an arrow into the air. Where the arrow fell, a monastery was built. In the Moldavian region of Romania there are several painted monasteries that are currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site (a post is coming soon).
The entrance to the park is dominated by the statue of Stephen the Great, and is located on the right side of the Government house (if viewed from the front).
The park is traveled quickly since it is not considerably large. In the central part there is a fountain and a statue of the famous Russian writer Aleksander Pushkin. (Note the mixture of Latin and Slavic cultures).
On the other side, going out the park, the visitor will meet the Moldovan parliament.
- Dendrariu Park
It is a park whose entrance is about 2.5 km from the center. It is a place where it is pleasant to walk, and whose size is much larger than the cathedral park. There is a charge, but it is worth the visit.
It was founded in 1973 on the site of a former botanical garden, and you can see different kinds of conifers and other plants from different parts of the world.
There is a lake in the central part, and although it is not possible to sail by boat, it is an ideal place to relax. By the time we arrived, the sun was already down and we could not stay too long.
- Eternity Memorial Complex
This place was built to honor those who died in the Second World War. The Soviets called the Great Patriotic War to the conflict with Germany that ended with the surrender of Berlin on May 9, 1945.
This day continues to be a national day in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. This monument was inaugurated on May 9, 1975, commemorating the 30th anniversary.
Every former capital from USSR I visited, has a similar place. There is an eternal flame, and also soldiers guarding it.
- Chisinau Gates
This is the entrance to the city from the airport. When visiting, the visitor has the feeling that time has stood still in the Cold War, despite the fact that these buildings date back to the 90’s.
They are basically staircase-shaped residential buildings that, when viewed from the center of the road, also resemble the doors of western movies. Despite being on the outskirts of the city, on the right side, there is the botanical garden, which due to lack of time we could not go.
One of the main features of Moldova, undoubtedly, is its wine production. It is currently in position 20 of the largest producers in the world. The Cricova and Milestii Mici wineries are especially known in the countries of the former Soviet Union for the quality of their wines. Both are located on the outskirts of Chisinau. In my case, I visited Cricova in 2011, and I will definitely dedicate it a separate post.
Did you know that…
… the worldwide famous band “O-Zone” is from Chisinau? Their song “Dragostea Din Tei” became an international hit in 2004.
… The Milestii Mici wine cellar mentioned above is the largest in the world? It contains more than 1.5 million bottles, according to the Guinness World Records.
… Moldova is a purely flat country? Actually, the highest altitude is 430 meters above sea level, therefore, the traveler will find a very monotonous landscape during the journey, if arriving by bus or train.
Related links
Travel in Moldova Site
http://www.moldova.travel/en/#
Dendrariu Park (not in English)
Cricova – Winery
https://www.cricova.md/?lang=en
Milestii Mici – Winery
https://www.milestii-mici.md/en/
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-wine-cellar-by-number-of-bottles/
Useful Information
It is needed caution if you decide to visit Transnistria, an autonomous Moldovan region, and a state with limited recognition, mostly Russian. Tiraspol, the capital, is 60 km away from Chisinau. In fact, the region has its own currency and government. My recommendation is to be well informed about security before visiting it.
Map of Locations
Credits
All photos taken using Sony Cybershot DSC – W5 Camera.
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