Chisinau, places to visit?

The city of Moldavia with a green heart

Considered one of the most green cities in Europe, Chisinau is rich in architectural beauties of a rare artistic value. Hills covered in forests and peaceful valleys with vast fields of sunflowers surrounding the capital city. This is a snapshot of Moldavia, a scenic country with a history that is largely found in the architectural beauty of Chisinau.

Chisinau is the capital of the Republic of Moldova, which was founded in 1991 from the ashes of the former Soviet Socialist Republic. Positioned in the centre of the historic region of Bessarabia, Chisinau is a multi-ethnic city and the seat of some 36 university faculties as well as the Moldova Science Academy, the social and cultural centre of the entire country.

Considered one of the greenest cities in Europe, Chisinau also offers architectural beauty and monuments of rare artistic value, which were mainly built during the Tsarist era with the help of virtuous Italian masters and after during the Soviet period.

A starting point of any visit to the city of Chisinau takes place from the majestic statue of Stefan cel Mare located at the entrance of the park of the same name.
This place represents the heart of the city as well as the main meeting place for Chisinau’s inhabitants. The park that extends behind the monument is without doubt the most beautiful and best kept of the city. It is crossed by the Bulevard Stefan cel Mare, which leads to the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The square alongside has been recently rebuilt and features two illuminated “dancing” fountains that at night create a striking image. Here, you can admire, in all its glory, the Presidential Palace, which is also known as the “Crystal Palace” by the city’s inhabitants. One side of Bulevard Stefan cel Mare leads onto the Great National Assembly Square, dominated by the giant Moldavian Government building. The Triumph Arch, built in 1840 to commemorate the victory of Tsarist troops against Turkish invaders, sits on the opposite side of the square.

Behind the Arch is the Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in classical Russian style, which is made up of a central body and a tower with separate belfry. The cathedral is surrounded by another flower-filled park where, at weekends and during the main religious and state festivals, a multi-coloured market of local crafts is held.
On the side of the park parallel to the Banulescu- Bodoni road lies the main open-air flower market, which is open 24 hours a day.

Also worthy of mention is the City Hall, built in Venetian Gothic style with adjacent clock tower. The Organ Room can be found along the boulevard, a classical style building that houses an organ of 3000 pipes with exceptional sound. .

National Wine Festival in Chisinau

Each year, the National Wine Festival is held in the second week of October. National producers offer a vast choice of fine wines, which are considered some of the best in Europe and top in the east of the continent. Their stands showcase these wines. Numerous traditional folklore performances are also held at this time.

Text by Angela Trivigno

Avion Tourism Magazine

Tourism Board

www.turism.gov.md

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Where to sleep in Chisinau

Chisinau is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

STARS

Hotels for stars, differentiated by type of services:

DISTRICTS

Hotels in the districts

LANDMARKS

Hotels in tourist areas

Triumphal Arch

National Opera & Ballet Theater

Museum Archeology & History

Moldova State University

Dendrarium Botanical Garden

Cathedral Park

Birth of Christ Cathedral

AIRPORT

Hotels near the airport

Chisinau Airport KIV

WHERE TO GO in Chisinau

Monuments in Chisinau

STATUE OF STEFAN THE GREAT (Stefan cel Mare)

The statue of the national hero of Moldavians is found at the entrance of the park of the same name and represents the heart of the city centre as well as being the main meeting place of local residents. Until 1991, a statue of Lenin sat on its base, but today a statue of the Prince and Saint Stefan cel Mare is found there, who known for being a hero during the struggle for liberation from Ottoman invaders.

BULEVARD STEFAN CEL MARE

One of the best kept parks of the city, it has a beautiful fountain and various statues of Romanian and Russian writers and poets. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is found outside the park, along the avenue of the statues. In the square alongside, which has recently been rebuilt, there are two illuminated “dancing” fountains. From here, you can admire the imposing Presidential Palace, which is also known as the “Palace of Glass” by inhabitants of the capital.

GREAT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SQUARE

(Piata Marii Adunari Nationale)

Until the nineties, this square was the site of military parades and speeches by the communist leaders from the U.S.S.R. The giant Moldavian Government building is found in the square, and opposite stands the Arch of Triumph, which was built in 1840 by the architect Zauschevici in commemoration of the victory of the tsarist troops against the Turkish invasion.

ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST

Surrounded by a park of lush green vegetation, the cathedral has a central body and tower with separate belfry. It was originally designed by the architect Abraam Melnicov at the end of 1836. Due to various armed conflicts, the building was destroyed several times, and the current structure is the result of work that ended in 1996. The cathedral is surrounded by another flower-filled park where, at weekends and during public holidays, a local craft market is held.

CITY HALL (Primaria Chisinaului) OF CHISINAU

This building was constructed in 1902, and designed by two architects M. Elladi and A. Bernardazzi in Venetian Gothic style. It has a tower with clock in at its apex.

Museums in Chisinau

MOLDAVIA NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY

AND HISTORY

The permanent exhibition of the museum displays the historic and archaeological heritage of the region from ancient times to the present day. Built in 1987, the new building is modern and has 12 rooms open to exhibitions.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ETHNOGRAPH AND NATURAL HISTORY

Founded initially as an Agricultural Museum, it has since expanded its activities to include collections that reflect the natural history, development of human society and traditional culture of the area. It currently has a collection of 135,000 pieces. Since 2006, the museum has been a specialised institution of the Academy of Sciences of Moldavia and, in 2009, it was added to the country’s “ethnographic and natural heritage”.

Excursions in Chisinau

VALEA MORILOR PARK

A large green area of the city, which was founded in 1951. A summer theatre is found inside the park, known as the Green Theatre, which holds 5,000 people and is used for concerts. The Comsomolist lake is found on the edge of the park and in summer, small rowing boats can be rented. The park is also home to the Moldexpo International Exhibition Centre.

THE MONASTERY OF MOLDAVIA

From Chisinau you can take a tour to visit two of the most important religious sites in Moldavia, the Hâncu Monastery and the Căpriana Monastery which is surrounded by woods, lakes and a beautiful landscape. During the excursion you can stop in the restaurants of the area to taste the Moldovan cuisine and the typical Cricova wine.

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