Chisinau or Kishinev?
The official spelling of Moldova's capital city is Chisinau (pronounced ‘quiche-in-know’) while Kishinev is the Soviet-time Russian spelling. No one really knows how Chisinau got its name. One theory is that Chisinau is derived from the ancient word, kishinin, meaning ‘spring’. Another is that Chisinau comes from the Turkish word for monastery, since the town was first mentioned in writing in 1436 when the town was the property of a monastery.

Moldova or Moldavia?
The official name of the country is Moldova while Moldavia is the Soviet-time Russian spelling. Confusingly, Romania’s most eastern historical region is also called Moldova (Romanian) or Moldavia (English).

Nowadays Kishinev is the capital of the Republic of Moldova, its administrative, scientifically, cultural and industrial centre.
At different historical times flags of four states had been streaming over our city. Till 1812 it belonged to the Moldovan state, from 1812 up to 1918 - to the Russian Empire, 1918 up to 1940 - to Romania, from 1940 up to 1991 to the Soviet Union. Now, over the House of President, the House of Parliament and the House of Government there is the tricolor of the independent state. For the first time Kishinev was mentioned in the historical documents in 1436, so the city is more than 560 years old.
Kishinev is situated in the very core of the country at the 47th degree 2’ of the north latitude and the 28th degree 50’ of the east longitude, it is located on the seven hills, and stretched along the tributary of the Dniester - the Bik. The total area of the city is about 200 square kilometers. The city is administratively divided into five districts: Central District, Botanica, Ciocani, Buiucani, Riscani.
The city population is more than 700 thousand; there are the representatives of different nationalities here. Many ethnic groups live here, such as the Moldovans, Russians, Bulgarians, Jewry, Ukrainians and others.
Kishinev is situated in the area with the mild, moderate-continental climate, under the Black Sea proximity influence. The city is especially beautiful in summer: under the bright-blue sky there are wide avenues, their pomposity is peacefully getting along with the unrepeatable atmosphere of the old Kishinev streets, white-stone buildings are buried in green foliage.
In the economical aspect Kishinev is the largest and the most developed city of the country. Its industry has more than 34 500 legal entities, the enterprises of mechanical, apparatus, engineering, electronics, jewelry, light, and food industries, woodworking industry and production of furniture, processing of natural leather and production of artificial leather, printing industry. Dozens of large enterprises were converted into limited companies. After the privatization the state enterprises only constitute 5,9 percent of their whole quantity.
Foreign investments, creation of free enterprise zones, application of the up-to-date technologies contribute to support of competitiveness level of our goods in the international market. Nowadays the goods produced in Moldova are bought by more than 80 countries of the world. By the way, in addition to the wines, produced in Kishinev and Cricova and recognized all over the world and our preserved food of vegetables and fruits, the high mark has also been given to vacuum pumps, tractors, TV sets, washing machines, carpets, hosiery articles, sweets, cosmetics and perfume, volatile oils, clothes as well as the wide assortment of the meat and dairy products.
During last years the bank and financial system also underwent considerable changes. Except National Bank of Moldova, all the banks of the capital, disposing developed system of their subsidiaries all over the Republic, were converted into commercial and stockholder banks, their total quantity is more than 25 units. Moldovan banks enjoy the confidence and authority in many countries of the world.
The representations of International Monetary Fund, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, OSCE, European Investment Bank as well as branches of some Russian and Romanian banks function in Kishinev.
The cultural life is maintained by 11 high-professional theatres, 9 museums, 5 concert halls, 48 libraries, 44 houses of culture and 8 cinemas. The activities of many creative organizations take place in Kishinev: Union of Writers, Union of Artists, Union of Cinematographers, Union of Composers, Union of Journalists, Union of Architects, Union of Photographers and others. One can watch 6 TV channels and listen to 12 radio channels.
The variety of hotels and restaurants is at the disposal of tourists and guests of the capital. A little walk round the night Kishinev will give you plenty of enjoinment.
The city has modern stadiums and sport complexes, a racecourse, as well as the famous trace of motor races that is considered to be one of the best in Europe.