General info

Kishinev is a compact city; its centre is well connected with all the administrative sectors. If you arrive in Kishinev by air, through the airport, the city will broadly open you its gates located in Dachia Boulevard, the Museum of Village is situated next to it, and then through the viaduct you will get to the centre. If you find yourself in the railway station, from the railway land side, where there is a sight to the Palace of Railway Workers, you will reach the centre along Gagarin Boulevard passing by the monument to Kotovsky and along Negrutsy Boulevard to Piata Liberetii (Square of Independence) that is limited by the buildings of the «National» and «Chisinau» hotels, as well as the main building of Academy of Sciences. There is a sculptural composition in the centre of the square devoted to the warriors of the Soviet Army, who liberated Moldova from fascists in 1944.

On 3 October 1999, in the City Day, when Kishinev celebrated its 563rd anniversary, the grand opening ceremony of the reconstructed part of Ciuflea Street that now is a wide highway, took place.

The central avenue of the capital begins from this place. This is Stephen the Great Boulevard, which length is 3.8 kilometers. Over the centuries, it frequently changed its name and face. In 1944 the central part of the boulevard was almost completely destroyed, only 2-3 buildings remained unharmed. Looking at the buildings, located in both sides of the boulevard, one can easily tell the stages of its reconstruction.

The former Armenian yards’ territory is the next to come, limited by the up-to-date Stephan the Great Boulevard, Armyanskaya and Benderskaya streets. The Armenian appeared in Kishinev in the first quarter of the XV century. In the beginning of the XIX century there were 113 Armenian families in Kishinev and in 1814 the City Council determined the plot in the city centre (more than 21 thousand metres) for the building religious and other constructions. Benderskaya arch formerly was here, and at the corner with Armyanskaya Street - a beautiful chemist’s shop. There is a territory of the central market on the opposite side of the boulevard being parallel to it behind the houses.

The sight of the centre is the Organ Hall located on the odd side of the street. On the right of the Organ Hall, there is the building of the National Drama Theatre. There is an open exhibition between them. On the left, there is not a bit less beautiful building of City Hall, and in front of it there is the central post office. Now we can look round to see the part of the avenue where we have already walked.

The main square of Kishinev is located behind Pushkin Street - it is Piata Marii Adunari Nationale (Square of the Great National Meeting). It has utterly another appearance before the reconstruction. It is restricted by a park with one side where there is Cathedral ensemble. The most ancient of its edifices is Portile Sfinta Arch (Saint Gates). There is a flower market along the park. The House of Government is situated in front of the Arch. It was built in the place where Bessarabian Eparchy was formerly located. Near the House of Government there are buildings of the National Palace and the National Library.