Chisinau

Historically known as Kishinev, Chisinau is Moldova's capital. Large and lively, this city was founded as a monastery village in 1436 and was once part of the Ottoman Empire. During the Russo-Turkish war in the early 19th century, the town's population grew as eastern Moldova ceded to the Russian Empire opening its doors and growing in population. Rebuilt in Soviet style from the 1950's today's Chisinau is filled with high-rise buildings surrounded by large beautiful parks.