The Republic of Moldova is a small land-locked country situated in the Southern part of the European Plain. The country’s capital, Chisinau, is situated at a latitude of 47` North and a longitude of 27`37`` East. The land surface of Moldova covers 33.7 thousands sq .km. Greatest distance from North to South is about 350 km., and from West to East - 150 km. Moldova borders in the North, East and the South on Ukraine and in the West on Romania. Moldova is a hilly plain that includes three physical geographic zones: forest, forest-steppe and steppe. The maximum altitude is of 429.4 meters. The main rivers in Moldova are the Nistru and the Prut.

Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.

The climate in Moldova is temperate. The average annual temperature is 8-10°C above 0, (on January 3-5°C bellow 0, on July 20-25°C above 0). Enjoy the changing seasons. The spring comes early. The summer is green and long, warm and relatively dry. The autumn is ablaze with colors and the winter is short and mild, but not always white. The average annual rainfall level is about 380 mm in the South and 560 mm in the center and northern parts.

Food and Drink
Moldova is rich in fertile soil and in hardworking and caring people. Nature is very generous in Moldova, offering plentiful grapes, fruits, vegetables, meat and milk products and cereals, all of which have found their uses in our national food. The fertile soil and the traditional agricultural methods make possible the cultivation of a diverse range of ecologically pure raw materials.

Moldovan cuisine has had a great influence on the traditional food of the other nationalities that live on this territory. At the same time some elements have been incorporated from Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian and Russian cuisine, as well as elements taken some centuries ago from Greek and Turkish food.

The ingredients used in the traditional meals are: a variety of vegetables like tomatoes, green peppers, aubergines, white cabbage, beans, onions, garlic, etc. The vegetables are used for salads and sauces; they are baked, pickled, salted, and canned thus becoming a real food art. The maize and maize flour give a specific color to the traditional meals, like soups, biscuits, flakes, alcohol free drinks, etc. The most common is “mamaliga” – a maize porridge or polenta with a fine and delicious taste. "Mamaliga" is served together with diced meat, cheese, fried meat, cream, etc.

Meat cooked for the first and the second course has a special place in the Moldovan food. The most common are chicken soup, goulash, roast meat, grilled minced meat rolls, etc. A lot of meat courses are grilled over charcoal. But before the grilling procedure the meat is properly picked.
There is not a holiday without cabbage rolls, meat jelly, noodles, etc. The traditional table is not complete without biscuits, pies, cake dipped in syrup and fruit.

In different parts of Moldova there are local cuisines. In the East the Ukrainians prefer borsch, in the south the Bulgarians can offer a delicious chicken sauce – mangea, and the Gagauzians may serve you sorpa – a spicy ram soup, and the Russians will offer you their traditional pelmeni – a kind of roll stuffed with meat.

The Moldovan cuisine is served with a variety of traditional drinks: stewed fruits, juices, as well as alcoholic drinks like: wine, brandy, "tuica" – plum brandy, etc.

Wine growing in Moldova is a century-old tradition. The famous Moldovan wines are well known and appreciated at home and far beyond the country borders. The wines can be dry, sweet and strong, they have a varied bouquet of flavours and colours. For wine producing European vines are used such as: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Muscat, etc., as well as Moldovan varieties: Feteasca, Black Rara, Moldova, etc.

Strong drinks such as plum brandy, are produced using traditional methods.

Wine tastings are offered in most Moldovan cellars.

Time:
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in September).

Economy:
The Republic of Moldova is an ago-industrial country. Its agriculture and industry combined account for about 75 % of total output. Moldova is a leading country in CIS area in grape, tobacco, sunflower, and sugar, beet productions. The industrial sector is dominated by Food processing, engineering and light industries. Moldova is famous for its top-quality wines and brandies; its carpets, textiles, garments and footwear are well - known.

Currency:
The currency of the Republic is the Moldovan Leu (MDL), which is divided into 100 bani. Moldovan leu comes in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Leu paper currency and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 bani in the form of a round coin. Credit card is rarely used.

Religion:
The Republic of Moldova mainly comprises representatives of two worldwide religions: Christianity and Judaism. The first represented by about 1800 communities, the latter by 7 communities. The majority adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, which incorporates almost 95% of orthodox Christians out of the entire population of the country. They dispose of 1034 churches, 36 monasteries and 7 hermitages with approximately 5000 priests, deacons, curates, etc.

The head of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (Moldova’s Metropolitan) is His Grace Vladimir, the Metropolitan of Chisinau and all Moldova. The church is subdivided into 4 dioceses: Chisinau, Edinet and Briceni, Cahul and Lapusna, Dubasari and Tiraspol. An office of locum tenens operates in the city of Balti.

The religious personnel is mainly trained within the Chisinau Theological Academy, Theological Seminary (“Noul Neamt Monastery”, in Chitcani), the Spiritual Lyceum for girls (Suruceni Monastery), the Spiritual Lyceum for boys (“Nasterea Domnului” Monastery, in Zabriceni).

The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova guarantees the religious freedom of its citizens (art. 31). Each citizen has the right to share any religion, individually or in group, to spread this faith, to exercise their cult either in a private or public, as long as it does not contradict the Constitution and the law in force.
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Holidays in Moldova

New Year’s Day 1 January
Christmas 7-8 January
International Women Day 8 March

Important steps in Moldova’s recent history:

27 August, 1991 Republic of Moldova proclaimed a sovereign state
8 December, 1991 First presidential elections held
2 March, 1992 Republic of Moldova became member of the United Nations
27 February, 1994 First multi-party elections to the Parliament
29 July, 1994 Parliament passed the new Constitution
13 July, 1995 Moldova became member of the Council of Europe
1 December, 1996 Elections of the new President
Easter 1 st and 2 nd days by religious calendar
Passover 2 nd Monday after Easter Day
Victory Day 9 May
National Independence Day 27 August
“Limba noastra” Holiday 31 August