Mazarachi Church, Chisinau

Although Chisinau may be a fairly new addition to the list of tourist destinations in Europe, it surely deserves a mention owing to its rustic appeal, specific architecture and lush greenery. The latter has earned Chisinau the title of one of the greenest cities in Europe. The word “Chisinau” translates from Romanian as a “new spring” where chișla means "spring" ("a source of water") and nouă means “new". It thus can be deduced that the city evolved from a settlement formed around a spring. At the foot of the hill, that houses the Mazarachi Church, lies a stone which marks the location of the spring for which the city has been named.

This church is one of the oldest structures in Chisinau. A historic monument of national importance, it was built by Vasile Măzărache in 1752. The building features a typical medieval Moldovan style, standing somewhat humbly over the spring that has given birth to the city. Dedicated to the Mother of God, Virgin Mary, the Mazarachi Church is one of the best examples of Russian Orthodox architecture in Chisinau. For tourists, this can be a good starting point for a historical tour of the city.