Chisinau

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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”.

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.