Moldova - Historical Province of Romania

Moldova, between the hydrographic basins of the Siret and the Jijia rivers, in the east of the Oriental Carpathians has important towns: Iasi, Pascani, Roman, Vaslui, Bacau, Piatra Neamt, Focsani, Galati, Tecuci. Iasi is one of the most ancient towns of the country, a cultural, scientific and artistic centre with numerous musea - The union Museum, the Ethnographical Museum and the Art Museum a.o. and with architectonic mouments: Saint Nicholas Church from the XV-th century, The Galata and Galia Monasteries from the XII-th century, The Palace of Culture from the beginning of the XX-th century, built in neo - Gothic style, with rich inside and outside decorations. Pascani has many historical monuments such as: a lordly house and Saints Michael and Gavril Church (Sf. Mihail si Gavril) - both of them from the XII-th century. The most important touristic and historical objectives of Roman are: The Armenian Church from the XVI-th century and The Viti Inn (from the XVIII-th century). Vaslui is known by the ruins of a fortress and Saint John the Baptist Church - from the XV-th century, by the mausoleum built in the memory of all the heroes who died during the War for Independence between 1877 and 1878. Focsani is situated near the well-known vineyards of Jaristea, Odobesti, and Costesti. Galati is an important fluvial and sea port, an industrial, trade and cultural centre, with the biggest shipyard and iron works in the country. Tecuci is situated near the famous vineyards of Nicoresti and Ivesti. Marasesti where were written many heroical pages during the First World War, remaining in our memory by the mausoleum from here and from Marasti, nearby.

Bucovina, a historical region whose territory lies today over the area nearby Suceava, Campulung Moldovenesc and Radauti in Romania and Cernauti in Ucraina, together with the north of Moldova was also called string of monasteries founded by great Moldovian voivodes and boyers (The Musatins, Alexander the Good (Alexandru cel Bun), Stephen the Great (Stefan cel Mare), Petru Rares, Stephen (Stefan) Tomsa, Alexander (Alexandru) Lapusneanu, Movilesti family a.o.), each with its specific colour: Voronet (blue), Humor (red), Sucevita (green), Moldovita (yellow) and Arbore (combination of colours). All these monasteries, due to their outter paintings (fresco) were taken into evidence by UNESCO and have received in 1976 the "Pome d'or" prize of FIJET International Organization for their cultural - touristic value. Thought in other style, but not less valuable, there are also the Dragomirna (work of art of the fast and exotism of the Moldavian architecture, whose colour and light are as those at Saint Sophia in Bizant) and Putna (with one of the richest artistic treasures in Romania and in the world in gothic style, taken in UNESCO evidence) monasteries, or Bogdana Church in Radauti (the oldest in Moldova). In this area, there are Dorohoi and Botosani towns, known by the memorial houses and museums of the great musician George Enescu and national poet Mihai Eminescu (born in Ipotesti, near Botosani). The administrative centre of the area, Suceava, could be the starting point for visiting various touristic objectives as the memorial house at Stupca of the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu, Vatra Dornei resort, the Rarau Mountains (with the unique reservation of limestones Pietrele Doameni) and the secular forest at Slatioara. Southward of the "Upper Country", near Targu Neamt town, there are some important touristic objectives: The "Neamtului" fortress, Ion Creanga national writer's house in Humulesti and Neamt, Sihastria, Varatec and Agapia monasteries (with some original mural paintings made by the famous painter Nicolae Grigorescu).