Private two days tour to Transnistria and the Republic of Moldova from Iasi

Day 1: Iasi - Capriana Monastery - Cricova Winery - Chisinau

Your first day will start at the reception of your hotel in Iasi, where you will meet your guide. After the meet-up you will start the trip to the Republic of Moldova, country famous for its wines and for the fact that is the least touristic country in the whole Europe. Right after the border crossing, you will stop at Capriana Monastery. With a history of over 400 years, the place is one of the most iconic Christian Orthodox monastery in the country and home to the relics of a Moldavian Saint. The main attraction of the day is the capital city of the country, Chisinau. Known as the ‘City of White Stone’ and the ‘City on Seven Hills’, Chisinau does not stop to impress through its massive socialist architecture that perfectly blends with the modern buildings and monuments. During the city tour you will visit the most iconic sites of the city, such as the Parliament and the Presidential House, together with the City hall designed by the famous Russian architect Alexander Bernadazzi. Next on your itinerary is Cricova Winery, situated at a depth of 50-80 meters, representing a real underground city! The Moldavian cellars where Vladimir Putin keeps his wine are so big you need to drive through them. With a length of more than 120km (70miles), Cricova owns the title of the largest winery in the country. In this unique underground city, you will have to opportunity to discover the steps to wine tasting and try a selection of the great range of Moldavian wines. After the wine tasting session you will end head back to Chisinau. Overnight in Chisinau

Day 2: Chisinau - Tiraspol - Bendery - Chisinau - Iasi

The second day will start early in the morning with a 2-hour drive to the unrecognized state that split off from the Republic of Moldova after the dissolution of the USSR. Imagine a country with borders, a president, its own currency, an emblem, a flag flying – yet nobody recognizes its existence – this is Transnistria, the narrow strip of land between the river Dniester and Ukraine. Right from the border checkpoint you will notice the presence of the Russian peace troops deployed in Transnistria during the Cold War. Nowadays, at almost thirty years after the Cold War ended, Russia is still very present by maintaining peace in the region. You will visit Bendery and Tiraspol towns, the two biggest in Transnistria and home to around 200.000 people, representing half of the region’s population. You will dive in the world of former glory and the atmosphere that once could be felt in former USSR. Together with the local guide, you will stroll on the wide boulevards flanked by the massive Soviet-style buildings and monuments. The monuments of Vladimir Lenin and Yuri Gagarin are just two of the many exhibited in the capital-city of Tiraspol. The guide will present to you the stories about the war against Moldova and his personal opinion on the events that took place in the region in 1992. After these in-depth city tours of Bendery and Tiraspol, you will have to say good bye to this North Korean-style European region and head back to Iasi. You will reach Iasi in the evening and your tour will come to an end.