Grădina Publică „Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt” is the oldest park in Chișinău and a living record of the city's changing identity. Its layout, monuments and trees have been shaped over more than two centuries.
The park was laid out in 1818, shortly after Chișinău became the capital of Bessarabia, and was originally called the 'Public Garden' (Grădina Publică). It was designed by the German architect Johann F. W. Meinz as a formal green space for the new administrative centre.
The park's signature feature is the Alley of Classics (Aleea Clasicilor), an open-air sculpture gallery of 29 busts honouring Romanian writers, poets and scholars. It was developed through the 20th century and remains a favourite meeting point.
At the centre stands the equestrian monument to Stephen the Great (Ștefan cel Mare), the Moldavian prince who ruled in the 15th century. Unveiled in 1928, it has become the symbolic heart of the city and a common reference point for meetings.
Today the park is co-managed by the Chișinău municipality and blends historic avenues with a cascade fountain, a summer open-air theatre and event spaces, remaining free and open to the public around the clock.