The world is finally waking up to the charms of this little nation wedged between Romania and Ukraine. It offers unspoiled countryside and superb wine tours. As one of Europe’s least-visited countries, Moldova retains a measure of roads-less-traveled charm.
We have arrived late for our last overnight in Moldova to Bălți. It is the second-largest city and it is sometimes also called “the northern capital”, it is a major industrial, cultural and commercial center and transportation hub in the north of the country. Appearing from...
Soroca is boasting both a medieval fortress dating from the days of Ștefan cel Mare and several new “fortresses” built by members of the Roma community, that’s why Soroca is known as the country’s Gypsy Capital. After so many centuries of struggle, it is perhaps unsurprising that those...
The fantastic Tipova Cave Monastery (entrance 10 MDL) is built into cliffs that tower some 200m above the Dniestr River’s right (west) bank, in the tiny village of Tipova some 95km northeast of Chişinău. The monastery consists of three religious chambers and monastic cells linked by...
The “Holy Trinity” Monastery of Saharna, situated about 110 km north of Chisinau on the right side of the Nistru, is considered one of the biggest centers of Moldovan religious pilgrimages. Here can be found the unique relicts of St. Cuvios Macarie, and on the top of the high cliff...
It took us only one day to explore the Chișinău, formerly Kishinyov, capital of Moldova, situated along the Bâcu River in the south-central part of the country. The first documentary reference to Chișinău dates from 1466 when it was under the rule of the Moldavian prince Ștefan III. After...
We have decided to visit the second-largest underground winery in the world in Cricova (entrance 450 MDL without wine tasting). The territory used to be a mine for limestone, in some branches excavation is still active, so the cellar is still growing. Nowadays, there are more than 100...
Orheiul Vechi, a place of stark natural beauty, is situated about 50 km north of Chişinău. Occupying a remote, rocky ridge over the Răut River, the complex is known for its Cave Monastery, but also includes ruins ranging from the earliest days of the Dacian tribes more than 2000 years ago...
The Curchi Monastery is one of the most important monuments of Bessarabian architecture situated in the Vatici valley on a bank of the Vatic River between rich hills covered with forests. It is an architectural ensemble dating mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. It consists of five...
Monastery Capriana is one of the most picturesque and attended Moldavian monasteries. It is situated in a forest area, only 40km northwest of Chisinau. It was established in 1429 by great Moldovan Ruler Stefan the Great and for a long period of time it was the headquarters of Moldova’s...
The dusty road brought us to Codrii Reserve – the most popular and oldest reserve in the country. It was founded in 1971 and it consists out of three functional zones: strictly defended zone (area in 720 hectares), buffer zone (4357 hectares), and transitional zone (2 km around the buffer...