MOSAICS OF MOLDOVA

The Mosaics of Moldova Tour is specially designed for those with an interest in Soviet-era mosaics, not as an exploration of political ideology, but as an opportunity to appreciate, document, and help preserve these remarkable works of art and the history surrounding them.

This research-focused tour explores Moldova’s hidden and forgotten mosaics, many of which are slowly fading away through neglect, weathering, and redevelopment. Through on-the-ground research, we will seek out known sites while also venturing beyond the established itinerary, exploring lesser-known towns and villages where remarkable artworks may still remain undocumented.

With a maximum group size of just three people, we can travel efficiently, reach more remote locations, and spend time engaging with local people. These conversations are often invaluable, as residents can lead us to mosaics and artworks that are unknown to outsiders and rarely documented online.

This tour represents the first segment of a wider exploration of Moldova, with further regions to be researched and documented in future stages. It is particularly suited to those who have already visited Moldova and are looking to experience a different side of the country, one far beyond the usual tourist destinations, following the traces of its artistic and architectural past.

This is a small-scale research tour for curious travellers, photographers, artists, researchers, and anyone fascinated by the enduring legacy of Moldova’s Soviet-era mosaics.

Friday 5th February – Chisinau

• Arrive at your leisure in Chisinau, the capital and largest city of Moldova. Chisinau is well connected to many European cities. Upon arrival, make your own transfer to our centrally located hotel.
• At 09:00am, we will meet in the hotel lobby for a pre-tour briefing. You’ll be introduced to your fellow travellers and your Privet Tours and local guides, who will walk you through the itinerary and plans for the days ahead.
• Chisinau is one of Europe’s least-visited capital cities and, in our experience, one of its most underrated. We’ll head straight into the heart of the city to discover some of Chisinau’s most notable and visually striking Soviet mosaics. Along the way, we’ll explore the stories, artists, architecture, and history behind these often-overlooked works. The route includes “The City is Flourishing and Being Built” by Mikhail Burya, “Labyrinth of Knowledge” by Filimon Hamuraru, and “Dance of the Muses” by Alexander Kuzmin.
• You’ll also have the opportunity to see the State Circus of Chisinau (Circul de Stat Chisinau) and the Romanita Collective Housing Tower once the tallest building in the city and most distinctive Soviet-era landmarks
• For lunch, we recommend a hearty bowl of zeama, a comforting chicken soup traditionally made with vegetables, herbs, and homemade noodles.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll continue exploring Chisinau’s remarkable collection of Soviet-era mosaics. By the end of the day, we’ll have discovered more than 20 monumental works. One of the highlights will be getting up close to “Plowman of the Universe” by David Aurel, offering a chance to appreciate the incredible detail and scale of the artwork that can easily be missed from a distance.
• After a busy day of exploring, we’ll head back to the hotel to relax and freshen up before heading out for the evening. We’ll make our way to one of our favourite steakhouse, where we can unwind over a great meal, accompanied by a selection of Moldovan wine
• Overnight stay in Chisinau.

Saturday 6th February – Chisinau – Southern Moldova – Gagauzia – Chisinau

• Breakfast at the hotel before we head out to explore the hidden gems of Southern Moldova.
• As you journey south, you’ll pass the iconic Soviet mosaics at the Hincesti House of Culture, along with numerous Soviet-era bus stops, before reaching Cahul, home to the largest concentration of monumental Soviet mosaics in the south of the country.
• We’ll stop for lunch at a local canteen, where we recommend trying the pelmeni with sour cream, accompanied by a glass of Moldovan brandy the perfect way to warm up.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll slowly make our way back to Chisinau passing through Gagauzia. As this is a research trip, we’ll take an alternative route through lesser-known towns and villages that remain largely off the radar of foreign tourists. This will also give us the opportunity to meet and speak with local residents who lived through the Soviet era and hear their personal stories and experiences.
• Upon arrival at our hotel, you’ll have some time to relax and freshen up before we head out to Andy’s Pizza, no trip to Moldova would be complete without a visit.
• Overnight stay in Chisinau.

Sunday 7th February – Chisinau – Central Moldova – Chisinau

• Early morning start with breakfast before we check out.
• We’ll head north before turning east along the Dniester River, which forms part of the boundary with the breakaway region of Transnistria, officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
• Your journey will take you past a series of beautiful Soviet-era bus stops, many of which are slowly falling into disrepair, before arriving at Ratus House of Culture. The building was restored in the 2020s by Igor Muntyanu, the son of its original creator.
• We’ll reach the largest mosaic of the day, depicting two Pioneers surrounded by themes of space exploration, innovation, education, sport, and agricultural production. From here, we’ll continue towards the Dniester River, where we know several more mosaics exist but have yet to be documented.
• We’ll stop at a local café for lunch. As this is a sparsely populated region, dining options will be limited, offering us a chance to experience a more authentic side of rural Moldova.
• Once we’re ready, we’ll continue our journey along the border with Pridnestrovie before turning back towards Chisinau. This will be the longest section of the day, with plenty of interesting stops and discoveries along the way.
• Arrival to Chisinau will be no later than 18:00pm: Tour concludes.
  • Airport transfers to Chisinau International Airport can be arranged.
  • Additional nights in Chisinau can be arranged on request.
  • If you’d like to continue your Soviet-themed adventure, join us on our Red Volga Tour (returning customers only).

There is a growing interest in Soviet mosaics, with resources slowly becoming more accessible through blogs, vlogs, social media, and other platforms that offer glimpses into these monumental artworks, their history, and the artists behind them.

Yet this growing interest comes at a critical moment. Many of these artworks are disappearing, sometimes at an alarming rate through demolition, renovation, neglect, or redevelopment. Once an integral part of public spaces across the Soviet Union, these large-scale works are increasingly at risk of being lost.

Specialised regional publications are beginning to document Soviet mosaics across the post-Soviet countries, creating valuable records of this often-overlooked artistic heritage. However, much of the work remains undocumented, and the loss of individual mosaics can mean the permanent disappearance of important pieces of cultural and artistic history.

We have also included a curated list of resources to provide additional background reading and further explore the history, artists, and cultural significance of Soviet mosaics across the post-Soviet region.

Recommended Documentaries

• Soviet Bus Stops (2022, Directed by Kristoffer Hegnsvad)

Recommended Books

• Moscow. Art for Architecture: Monumental Soviet Mosaics 1925  – 1991 – James Hill, Anna Petrova, Evgeniya Kudelina
  With contributions by Anna Bronovitskaya
• Ukraine. Art for Architecture: Soviet Modernist Mosaics from 1960 to 1990 – Yevgen Nikiforov/Polina Baitsym
• Tashkent. Art for Architecture: Monumental art since 1953 – Fotima Abdurakhmanova With additional contributions by Dmitrij Chmelnizki, Rustam Khusanov, and Philipp Meuser
• Soviet Bus Stop – Christopher Herwig 

Your guide, Ravi Mistry, previously lived in Tiraspol, the capital of Pridnestrovie (Transnistria), and still uses Chisinau as his base for exploring the region. Having guided hundreds of travellers throughout Moldova, Ravi has developed a deep connection with the country, its people, and its history.

His passion for Soviet mosaics began here, where these remarkable works can be found throughout the country, creating what is effectively an open-air museum of Soviet-era art and architecture. In response to growing interest, the Mosaic of Moldova Tour was created for travellers looking beyond the typical mainstream tours, offering a chance to discover lesser-known towns, villages, mosaics, and stories that are often overlooked.

A detailed pre-tour guide will be sent to you upon confirmation of your booking.