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Considered one of the most green cities in Europe, Chisinau is rich in architectural beauties of a rare artistic value, built mainly during the tsar era with the contribution of virtuous Italian masters, as well as during the Soviet period.
A visit to the city of Chisinau should definitely start by visiting the majestic statue of Stefan cel Mare, situated at the entrance of the park with the same name.
This place represents the heart of the downtown, as well as the main meeting point of Chisinau inhabitants.
Up to 1991 the statue of Lenin was placed in the square. Today the statue of the Stefan the Great and the Saint, a hero in the fight for independence from Ottoman Empire, is the main monument in the neighborhood.
Exiting the park along the statues’ path towards the Stefan cel Mare Boulevard, you arrive to the Opera and Ballet Theater, built during the Soviet era.
The square in front of it has been renovated recently and two dancing lighted fountains have been mounted that have a beautiful view in the evening.
From this point we can admire the imposing Presidential Palace, called also as “the glass palace” by the inhabitants of the capital.
Returning on the Stefan cel Mare Boulevard and passing by the statue of Stefan cel Mare, we arrive in the Square of the Grand National Meeting (Piata Marii Adunari Nationale), the place where before the ‘90s the military parades and speeches of the Communist leaders were organized.
In this enormous square the large House of Government of Moldova (former premises of the Communist Party of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic) faces the Arch of Triumph, built in 1840 by the architecture I. Zauschevici as a commemoration of the victory of tsar troops against the Turkish invasion.
Behind the Arch the building in the classical Russian style of the Orthodox cathedral “Christ Birth” arises, comprising a central building and a separate bell tower. The original bell tower was built by the architector Abraam Melnicov, who designed and built it in 1836. The tower was destroyed a few times in various military conflicts. Therefore the actual bell tower is the result of the reconstruction finished on the 25 of August 1996 by the wish of the Moldovan ex-president Mircea Snegur.
The cathedral is surrounded by another park full of flowers, where in weekends and during the main state and religious anniversaries an open market of various local craftsmanship is organized.
At one side of the park, along the Banulescu-Bodoni street the main flower open market of the city operates 24 hours a day, the booths being in line one after another for more than 200 meters.
Crossing back the park diagonally we return to Stefan cel Mare Boulevard that continues to the East for 3 kilometers more.
The first building to mention towards East is the Chisinau Municipality (Primaria Chisinaului), built in 1902 by the architects M. Elladi and A. Bernardazzi.
The building is constructed in gothic Venetian style and has a tower on the top with a big clock.
In front of the municipality the round building of the Central Post Office is situated.
Next to the Organ Hall, there is a small and attractive park, in which an open market “Vernisaj” of the most beautiful art and craftsmanship works in the city. This is the best place to buy your souvenirs and memories from Chisinau.
On the other side of the “Vernisaj” the imposing columns of the “Mihai Eminescu National Theater” face the boulevard.
Continuing the walk on the boulevard up to the modern building of Moldtelecom we can turn left on the Armeana street or a little further on the Tighina street to the Central Open Food Market of the city
Returning on the boulevard after having visited the market, and continuing the walk towards East we get to the UNIC shopping center, built in the Soviet era that represents even nowadays the biggest commercial area of all Moldova. Crossing the large intersection of the Stefan cel Mare boulevard and Ismail street through the comfortable underground passage, full of many small booths and ambulant sellers, the end of the main street of the city is a few meters away. From this viewpoint the Monument to the Fighters and Liberators can be seen, which is situated at the intersection of Stefan cel Mare Boulevard and Negruzzi boulevard on the Independence Square (former Freedom Square). This monument has been erected in 1969 as homage to the Red Army that in year 1944 has liberated Moldova from the fascist occupation.
On the sides of this square the National Hotel and Chisinau Hotel are situated. The latter has been built in 1960 and is worth mentioning due to its architectural structure, as well as due to the “Crama” restaurant, refurbished as a traditional Moldovan wine cellar. Negruzzi Boulevard starts right here and is about 500 meters long up to the first road circle. The offices of the main airlines and tourist agencies are situated in this elegant boulevard.
Having arrived to the road circle, we can admire the monument erected to the memory of Grigore Kotovski, Soviet military leader and Moldovan Communist activist, who led two rebellions against the tsarist rule. Cosmos Hotel is situated behind the monument. Following our walk we get to the Iurii Gagarin Boulevard that leads to the Central Railway Station, built in 1948 and renovated recently.
A visit to the city of Chisinau should definitely start by visiting the majestic statue of Stefan cel Mare, situated at the entrance of the park with the same name.
This place represents the heart of the downtown, as well as the main meeting point of Chisinau inhabitants.
Up to 1991 the statue of Lenin was placed in the square. Today the statue of the Stefan the Great and the Saint, a hero in the fight for independence from Ottoman Empire, is the main monument in the neighborhood.
Exiting the park along the statues’ path towards the Stefan cel Mare Boulevard, you arrive to the Opera and Ballet Theater, built during the Soviet era.
The square in front of it has been renovated recently and two dancing lighted fountains have been mounted that have a beautiful view in the evening.
From this point we can admire the imposing Presidential Palace, called also as “the glass palace” by the inhabitants of the capital.
Returning on the Stefan cel Mare Boulevard and passing by the statue of Stefan cel Mare, we arrive in the Square of the Grand National Meeting (Piata Marii Adunari Nationale), the place where before the ‘90s the military parades and speeches of the Communist leaders were organized.
In this enormous square the large House of Government of Moldova (former premises of the Communist Party of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic) faces the Arch of Triumph, built in 1840 by the architecture I. Zauschevici as a commemoration of the victory of tsar troops against the Turkish invasion.
Behind the Arch the building in the classical Russian style of the Orthodox cathedral “Christ Birth” arises, comprising a central building and a separate bell tower. The original bell tower was built by the architector Abraam Melnicov, who designed and built it in 1836. The tower was destroyed a few times in various military conflicts. Therefore the actual bell tower is the result of the reconstruction finished on the 25 of August 1996 by the wish of the Moldovan ex-president Mircea Snegur.
The cathedral is surrounded by another park full of flowers, where in weekends and during the main state and religious anniversaries an open market of various local craftsmanship is organized.
At one side of the park, along the Banulescu-Bodoni street the main flower open market of the city operates 24 hours a day, the booths being in line one after another for more than 200 meters.
Crossing back the park diagonally we return to Stefan cel Mare Boulevard that continues to the East for 3 kilometers more.
The first building to mention towards East is the Chisinau Municipality (Primaria Chisinaului), built in 1902 by the architects M. Elladi and A. Bernardazzi.
The building is constructed in gothic Venetian style and has a tower on the top with a big clock.
In front of the municipality the round building of the Central Post Office is situated.
Next to the Organ Hall, there is a small and attractive park, in which an open market “Vernisaj” of the most beautiful art and craftsmanship works in the city. This is the best place to buy your souvenirs and memories from Chisinau.
On the other side of the “Vernisaj” the imposing columns of the “Mihai Eminescu National Theater” face the boulevard.
Continuing the walk on the boulevard up to the modern building of Moldtelecom we can turn left on the Armeana street or a little further on the Tighina street to the Central Open Food Market of the city
Returning on the boulevard after having visited the market, and continuing the walk towards East we get to the UNIC shopping center, built in the Soviet era that represents even nowadays the biggest commercial area of all Moldova. Crossing the large intersection of the Stefan cel Mare boulevard and Ismail street through the comfortable underground passage, full of many small booths and ambulant sellers, the end of the main street of the city is a few meters away. From this viewpoint the Monument to the Fighters and Liberators can be seen, which is situated at the intersection of Stefan cel Mare Boulevard and Negruzzi boulevard on the Independence Square (former Freedom Square). This monument has been erected in 1969 as homage to the Red Army that in year 1944 has liberated Moldova from the fascist occupation.
On the sides of this square the National Hotel and Chisinau Hotel are situated. The latter has been built in 1960 and is worth mentioning due to its architectural structure, as well as due to the “Crama” restaurant, refurbished as a traditional Moldovan wine cellar. Negruzzi Boulevard starts right here and is about 500 meters long up to the first road circle. The offices of the main airlines and tourist agencies are situated in this elegant boulevard.
Having arrived to the road circle, we can admire the monument erected to the memory of Grigore Kotovski, Soviet military leader and Moldovan Communist activist, who led two rebellions against the tsarist rule. Cosmos Hotel is situated behind the monument. Following our walk we get to the Iurii Gagarin Boulevard that leads to the Central Railway Station, built in 1948 and renovated recently.
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