Chișinău is the capital and largest city ofMoldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre, and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc. According to January 2012 official estimates, Chișinău proper has a population of 723,500 and the municipality of Chișinău is home to 794,800 residents. Chișinău is the most economically prosperous locality in Moldova, and its largest transportation hub. As the most economically and socially important municipality in Moldova, the city has a broad range of educational facilities.History Founded in 1436 as a monastery village, the city was part of the Principality of Moldavia, which, starting with the 16th century fell under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. At the beginning of the 19th century it was a small town of 7,000 inhabitants. In 1812, in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812), the eastern part of Moldavia was ceded to the Russian Empire and Chișinău became the capital of the newly annexed gubernia of Bessarabia. Its population had grown to 92,000 by 1862 and to 125,787 by 1900.Municipality Moldova is administratively subdivided into 3 municipalities, 32 districts, and 2 autonomous units. Chișinău is one of these municipalities. Besides the city itself, the municipality comprises 34 other suburban localities: 6 towns (containing further 2 villages within), and 12 communes (containing further 14 villages within). The population at the 2004 Moldovan Census is shown in brackets:Architecture The city's growth plan was developed in the 19th century. In 1836 the construction of the Cathedral and its belfry was finished. The belfry was demolished in Soviet times, but was rebuilt in 1997.Culture And Education The city is home to 12 public and 11 private universities, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, as well as a number of institutions offering both high school education, as well as 1–2 years of college education.Chisinau, as well as Moldova as a whole, still show signs of ethnic culture. Signs that say "Patria Mea" (English: My homeland) can be found all over the capital. While few people still wear traditional Moldavian attire, large public events often draw in such original costumes.American sculptor Moissaye Marans was born in Chișinău in 1902.See Cathedral Park - Better known as Central Park, it is in the very centre. The centre is adorned with the Nativity Cathedral, the main church for the city. To the Southwest is the Triumph arch constructed in 1841 which is the center piece of The Great National Assembly Square. Across Stefan cel Mare Boulevard is the Government House. The city’s biggest flower market is on the north side of the park along Banulescu Bodoni street.

Stefan Cel Mare Monument. The monument to Stephen III of Moldovia who in the 15th century achieved European fame by resisting the Turkish advances. The monument is the gateway to the beautiful park of the same name.

Rose Valley. A nine hectare park featuring three major lakes and several restaurants. To get here use lines T2, T3, T7, T9 or T10.

Riscani Park. A big, 32 hectare wooded park offering you pleasant, almost secluded walks. Use bus 5 or A. Botanica Park. The most beautiful and the largest in Chisinau, situated near the Gates Of The City. Parcul Valea Morilor. Very large park with a recently renovated lake and which offers acres of largely untouched

countryside scenery in the heart of the city. Parcul Dendrariu - A large park in Buiucani (which costs 2 lei to enter). Nice gardens, lake, forests and sports field. Parcul Alunelul - Situated near a former Soviet theme park, this contains a strange door-less and window-less

house, as well as a memorial to the pogroms in Chisinau in the first part of the 20th Century. Jewish Cemetery in Buiucani - the cemetery is still in use. Contains new and very old graves, and used to be one of

the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. Pushkin Museum, Str Anton Pann 19 - you can visit the house where Pushkin lived when in exile from Russia during

the years 1820-23.National Archaeology & History Museum, Str 31 August 1989, 121A - Spend a few hours exploring the exhibits.National Ethnographic and Nature Museum, Str M Kogălniceanu 82National Museum of Fine Arts, Str 31 August 1989, 115Memorial Park - A little way-out of the center is the is a memorial commemorating the victory of the Soviet army in WWII.