Chișinău, capital of Moldova, when the country was part of the Soviet Union. At that time the population of the city was 452 000 (source: Novosti). In this 1975 picture one can see the Triumphal Arc (Arcul de Triunf), built in 1840 by design of architect I. Zauschevic to commemorate the victory of the Russian Empire over the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War (1828–29). Behind it, there is the neoclassical Cathedral of Christ’s Nativity (Catedrala Mitropolitană Nașterea Domnului) built in 1830s, the main orthodox chatedral in the country. Back then there wasn’t the current bell tower (see photo below) that was not built until 1997. During the Soviet times, worship was prohibited and the cathedral was used as an exhibition center. The square opposite the arc is the main plaza of the city (Piața Marii Adunǎri Naționale, often translated as “National square”), that is in front of the Government House, which the two women in the photo are walking throught the walkway. (Google Maps).
(photo: © 1975 Novosti news agency, Moscow – personal collection)
The Triumphal Arc in 2009: the tower bell down there was built in 1997 (Commons).
