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Triumphal Arch

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Triumphal Arch

From an architectural perspective, a triumphal arch is a monument in the form of an arched portico, featuring one or more arches, constructed to commemorate a significant event or honor a notable personality. For urban planning purposes, it is typically situated in one of the city squares, marking the axis of the main thoroughfare or serving as the epicenter of urban infrastructure.

The construction of triumphal arches continued into modern times, and they can now be found in various European capitals, including Chisinau.

Some intriguing details from the biography of this historical monument:

Historic Chisinau once had several triumphal arches, but only one survives today. The existing arch, designed by Odessa architect Luka Zaușchevici in 1841, took inspiration from the eponymous construction in Rome.

Throughout its history, the monument has undergone several name changes: Arch of Triumph, Arch of Victory (during Soviet times), and Holy Gates.

The present-day Triumphal Arch in Chisinau, an integral part of the architectural complex in the city center, is constructed from polished white stone, square in shape, with four openings. It aligns with the main axis of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Nativity of God (1830) and the Cathedral Bell Tower (1835). Standing at 13 meters tall, the monument features ceramic ornaments and capitals imitating the Corinthian style. Its base consists of four massive Corinthian pillars, set on special perches that serve as pedestrian walkways. The upper level is adorned in classical style.

Craftsman Vasily Losenko from Kyiv gubernia cast three bells, including a massive 6.4-ton bell, the city’s largest, for the Nativity Cathedral Bell Tower. The bells bear inscriptions such as “By the kind permission of Tsar Nikolai I in 1838” and “For the Nativity Cathedral in Chisinau.” Due to the oversized bell, a triumphal arch was erected, also serving as a bell tower to commemorate the Russian army’s victory in the Russo-Turkish war. The giant bell was installed on the second level of the Arc de Triomphe in August 1839.

Both the bells in Chisinau and some for churches in Ismail were cast from Turkish cannons captured by A. Suvorov (1729-1800) during the military actions of Ismail (1790).

Constantin Ivanov from Chișinau undertook the responsibility to repair the bells for the sum of 1000 rubles, leaving his property as collateral in case of failure.

Inside one of the pillars of the Triumphal Arch in Chisinau, there is a metal ladder leading to the second level, where the clock is situated. The first clock, acquired from donations by Bessarabia governor Pavel Fyodorov, was purchased from craftsman Helzel in Odessa and installed on 3 August 1839. Between 1842-1849, the clock was maintained by clockmaker Spiller. In 1880, the clock was replaced by another from the Hertz factory in the German city of Ulm. The clock struck every quarter of an hour. During the beginning of the Second World War, the clock was destroyed in an explosion and later repaired in 1942 for 18,000 lei.

In 1945, marble memorial plaques were affixed to the Arch of Triumph in Chisinau, dedicated to Soviet patriotic scenes of the Second World War and the names of Soviet Union heroes who fought on the territory of Soviet Moldova. These inscriptions were removed in 1991.

The Arch of Triumph in Chisinau is acclaimed as one of the five most beautiful triumphal arches in the world.

 

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