Chişinău

Historically also known as Kishinev, is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc. 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. In 1812, in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War, the eastern part of Moldavia was ceded to Russian Empire and Chişinău became the capital of the newly annexed gubernia of Bessarabia.