The Republic of Moldova is a small
land-locked country situated in the Southern part of the
European Plain. The country’s capital, Chisinau, is situated at
a latitude of 47` North and a longitude of 27`37`` East. The
land surface of Moldova covers 33.7 thousands sq .km. Greatest
distance from North to South is about 350 km., and from West to
East - 150 km. Moldova borders in the North, East and the South
on Ukraine and in the West on Romania. Moldova is a hilly plain
that includes three physical geographic zones: forest,
forest-steppe and steppe. The maximum altitude is of 429.4
meters. The main rivers in Moldova are the Nistru and the Prut.
Moldova is a very picturesque
country - with rolling green hills, whitewashed villages, placid
lakes and sunflower fields - with possibly the most genuine
old-world charm in all of Europe. Popular traditions mix with
the multi-ethnic character of the country, giving them a new
colour and transforming them into original customs, rituals, and
folklore.
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Moldova festivities tend to mark
the changing of the seasons, and these are celebrated most
fervently in rural areas. Urban Moldova It still has a wealth of
stately old buildings and onion-domed cathedrals, mixed in with
stark box buildings from the Stalinist era.
These startling contrasts are
offset by a number of trendy bars and cafes sprouting up around
the towns and cities. Moldova was once the leading wine producer
in the USSR, and this craft is still practised today, making it
one of the top ten wine producing countries in the world. In
fact, the wines are surprisingly good and varied, comprising
common grapes and some particular to Moldova, and most vineyards
welcome visitors. |
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Soroca:
the fortress - inside the walls |
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Orheuil Vechi:
cave
monastery of Butuleni - the entrance |
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