MOLDOVA (Moldavia), the famous historical region between the hydrographic basins of the Siret and the Jijia rivers, in the east of the Oriental Carpathians, has many important towns: Iasi (population 330.000 in 2006), Galati (300.000), Bacau (184.000), Piatra Neamt (126.000), Focsani (100.000), Vaslui (80.000),  Roman (72.000),  Pascani (50.000), Tecuci (48.000).

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.

GALATI, the biggest Romanian inland harbour for sea-going ships, is situated not far from the worldwide famous Danube Delta. With about 300,000 inhabitants, Galati is the 5-th greatest city of Romania and with over 100 years of history, the shipyard of Galati is the oldest in Romania. The Museum of Romanian Contemporary Art, unique in Romania, was set up in 1956. The collections of the museum contain about 3.500 of paintings, sculptures, black and white pictures, works of decorative art, the most valuable being signed by the greatest Romanian artists.

Situated on the Bistriţa River - which meets the Siret River about 8 kilometres (5 miles) to the south of the town, BACAU is the administrative and industrial center of an oil-producing region, has a papermill, textile factories, and industries that manufacture military planes. Although probably settled in the 5th century, Bacau did not become important until oil was discovered there in the 20th century. It has a regional museum and ruins of a 15th-century princely court. The wild and beautiful Ghimes Pass links Bacau to Transylvania.

 

The capital of the Neamt region in northeast Romania and south of Bukovina, PIATRA NEAMT lies in the Bistriţa River Valley, surrounded by mountains - Pietricica (590 m), Cozla (679 m), Cernegura (852 m), Batca Doamnei (462 m) and Carloman (617 m), at an average height of 345 m. The main attractions are the Princely Court, Stepfan the Great Church, the Clock Tower, Museum of Art, Museum of Ethnography, Museum of Natural Sciences, "Calistrat Hogas" Memorial Museum, the Wooden Church in Valeni, Cozla Hermitage, the Wooden Synagogue and the Elena Cuza House. The Neamt county (which begins in the north of Piatra Neamt town and continus in BUCOVINA) is known as the region with most monasteries per square kilometer in the world. It boasts a rich and varied landscape, with elements of great beauty and lots of cultural and historical vestiges. The local people are renowned for their hospitality.

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. 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.

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