Welcome to Chisinau

interesting places

Bunduchi Lucian
¡Let's beginning!
Today’s Moldova has only been an
independent country for three decades.
During the Middle Ages, the territory of
Moldova (then known as “Bessarabia”)
was part of Greater Romania, the
Ottoman Empire, and the Russian
Empire. As such, Chisinau has always
been a provincial city, never a center of
power. 
 Nativity Cathedral and Cathedral Park

When it comes to historical monuments in Chisinau, the

Nativity Cathedral is one of the most striking. The
neoclassical building dates from 1830 and has been the
main Moldovan Orthodox church ever since. 
The building was bombed during the Second World War and
later transformed into an exhibition center by the Soviets,
but since 1997, it has been an active church again.
The Triumphal Arch and the
Oversized Government Buildings

Next to the Cathedral Park, you’ll find the Triumphal Arch,

constructed in 1840 to commemorate the Russian
victory over the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish
War (1828-29). 
This area is also home to the country’s government buildings,
mostly built during Soviet times. 
Along Stefan Cel Mare Boulevard, you’ll see over-the-top
structures that house the Presidential Palace, the
Parliament, and the Government House. As such, if
you’re into Soviet brutalism, this neighborhood offers a
glimpse into weird communist architecture. 
 The Authentic Central Market
● All over the former Soviet Union, farmers’ and flea markets are a
common sight. In this context, shopping at the Piata Centrala (Central
Market) is one of the most authentic things to do in Chisinau, as you’ll
experience local life firsthand. 
 Quirky Soviet Buildings in Chisinau – the Hotel National
and the Circus
On the one hand, Chisinau’s wide range of abandoned Soviet buildings is a sad reflection of the region’s economic
downfall. On the other hand, there are fascinating photo opportunities and unique places to visit. 
Two abandoned buildings are particularly photogenic: the Hotel National and the Circus. 
The humongous Hotel National on United Nations Square once functioned as the city’s only “intourist” hotel
(catering to Western visitors). As such, Western tourists could stay in a dedicated building with bugged rooms
and “luxurious” amenities when they ventured to the Soviet Union. 
The Hotel first opened in the 1970s and was privatized in 1992. Since then, it fell into bankruptcy several times
and now sits as a brutalist ruin in the heart of Chisinau. 
This is just a few
interesting places in
chisinau. Thank you for
attention.