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City Of SorocaSoroca is a Moldovan city situated on the Dniester
river about 160 km north of Chiinu. It is the administrative center
of the Soroca District with an area of 1,043 km2 (403 sq mi) and
Elevation 347 m (1,138 ft).
HistoryThe city has its origin in the medieval Genoese trade
post of Olchionia, or Alchona. It is known for its well preserved
stronghold, established by the Moldavian prince Stephen the Great
(tefan cel Mare) in 1499. The origins of the name Soroca is not
fully known. Its location is only a few kilometers to the
Moldova-Ukrainian border. The original wooden fort, which defended
a fjord over Dniester, was an important link in the chain of
fortifications which comprised four forts (e.g. Bilhorod -
Dnistrovskyi, then known as Akkerman, and Khotyn) on the Dniester,
two forts on the Danube and three forts on the north border of
medieval Moldova. Between 1543 and 1546 under the rule of Peter IV
Rare, the fort was rebuilt in stone as a perfect circle with five
bastions situated at equal distances.During the Great Turkish War,
John III Sobieski's forces successfully defended the fort against
the Ottomans. It was of vital military importance during the Pruth
River Campaign of Peter the Great in 1711. The stronghold was
sacked by the Russians in the Austro-Russian - Turkish War
(173539). The Soroca Fort is an important attraction in Soroca,
having preserved cultures and kept the old Soroca in the present
day. The locality was greatly extended in the 19th century, during
a period of relative prosperity. Soroca became a regional center
featuring large squares, modernized streets, hospitals, grammar
schools and conventionalized churches. In the Soviet period, the
city became an important industrial center for northern
Moldova.Soroca was known for producing grapes, wheat, maize, and
tobacco in 1919.The population was estimated at 35,000 in 1919. It
consisted mainly of Jews. Romanians, Germans and Russians also
lived in the city. The city once had a Jewish population of around
18,000 but they are only 100 today and 20 of them are considered
Jewish according to the halakha. In 2012, Soroca had an estimated
37,500 inhabitants. The city has a sizable Romani (Gypsy) minority
and is popularly known as the "Romani capital of Moldova.
The Candle of Gratitude MonumentThis monument built on the rocks
above the river Nistru on the borders of Soroca and is one of the
most important creations in the Moldavian modern history. This
extraordinary work of art is dedicated to all Moldavian cultural
monuments that were destroyed. The Candle of Gratitude raises from
the depth of our past and represents a homage to all the anonymous
heroes that have kept safe the culture, the language and the
history of Moldova out of a wide colorful human civilization.This
national monument is 29.5 meters in length and it is located right
at the entrance to the city which catches the eye of people passing
by or visiting the city.
Soroca FortressIn the medieval period the fortress of Soroca was
part of a huge Moldovan defensive system, which comprised four
fortresses on the Nistru river, two on the Danube and another three
in the northern part of the country. With this Stone belt of
fortresses the countrys borders were well protected. Sorocas
fortress is also famous for being the place where the Moldovan
army, and the Russian army met and consolidated their forces during
the Prut campaign against the Turkish hordes in 1711. The fortress
is the only medieval monument in Moldova, which has been preserved
entirely as it was designed by its builders and it is a most visit
for every tourists coming into Moldova. Above the entrance gate one
can visit the small military church.
Soroca Museum of History and EthnographyThe museum was founded
in 1959 and it is rated as one of the richest and most interesting
historical museums in Moldova. The museum collections contain
approximately 30,000 artifacts, the most interesting objects found
during archaeological excavations in the city of Soroca, and
Varvareuca Trifauti.The museum exposition is located in a few small
rooms. In essence, it is more like a local history museum. Numerous
exhibits tell the history of the city since its inception. Here you
can also learn how Soroca Fortress was built, how it looked
originally and what changes have been made throughout its
existence.
In the museum you can find information about the population,
which at various times inhabited the city and its surroundings.
The Gypsy HillSoroa is well known as the capital of Moldavian
Gypsy (Roma). Famous for the most numerous Gypsy community in
Moldova, It influenced the architecture of the city. The Gypsy
houses impress by their variety, diversity of colors, contrasts and
luxury. About 20 hundreds of Gypsy live in Soroca and very often
the Gypsy palaces pass ahead of local middle class inhabitants
houses according to the level of accomplishment. Excursions around
the Gypsy hill will be a very pleasant way of experiencing the
gypsy tradition.
Soroca travel is best done during the warmer months of May
through early October. This is because a lot of the attractions,
including the museum mentioned above, do not keep any sort of
regular hours in the winter weather. This can often cause some
confusion, so it is best to make a visit during the traditional
summer season.The climate in Soroca is temperate-continental.
Winter is usually mild and short with an average temperature of -5
to 6 degrees Celsius. Summer is long and warm with an average
temperature of 20 to 21 degrees Celsius. The average annual
rainfall is 485 mm. Soroca has a suitable climate for farming
cereals, sugar beet, tobacco and also for horticulture. The main
geographical feature of Soroca is the Nistru Plateau. The terrain
is hilly with deep valleys, dales and ravines. Other features
include a gently rolling plain to the north west and the Raut and
Nistru rivers. The highest points in Soroca are Vadeni Hill at 347m
and the Visoca Hill at 330m.
