Traditional costumes, scarfs, Moldovan carpets, handicrafts and other authentic elements were presented in an exhibition dedicated to the national cultural heritage at the National Library of the Republic of Moldova. The organizers also prepared almost 300 documents on the valorization of heritage from the Library’s collections, IPN reports.
National Library director Elena Pintilei said that Moldova is located at the crossroads of several cultures and influences and it therefore has a rich cultural heritage that deserves to be enhanced, including through such exhibitions as today’s event. The heritage of the Republic of Moldova includes a series of elements, from archaeological sites, medieval churches and monasteries to folklore, gastronomic traditions and famous wines. “The inclusion of these elements in tourist routes attracts tourists and also contributes to the conservation and promotion of these resources for future generations. The exhibition capitalizes on the written national heritage and promotes the tangible and intangible heritage, with national elements, such as the national blouse, the costume, the carpet, crafts, traditions, music and folk art, picturesque places,” stated Elena Pintilei.
According to her, the effective promotion of tourism and heritage requires proper information and close cooperation between info-documentary institutions and travel agencies.
“The cultural heritage of the Republic of Moldova is an invaluable resource for the development of tourism, which can attract visitors from the country and from outside it, so as to preserve traditions and to support local communities. By integrating elements of cultural heritage into tourist routes, Moldova will strengthen its position on the map of European tourist destinations and will be able to preserve its cultural heritage for future generations,” said the head of the National Library.
The founder of “Sus pe deal” guesthouse in Criuleni district Maria Romanciuc presented a collection of scarfs of different colors and with different ornaments. The woman told how in the last two years she started to bring the things that marked her and stopped at scarfs. She said that this clothing item is compatible with other clothes, but it also has a special meaning. It is part of a sacred ritual. The scarf covers the head, the hair, but the most important thing is that it expresses feminine power. “I want this exhibition to awaken in us those beautiful feelings of a woman,” said Maria Romanciuc.
“The library remains the living space of any community. People from various localities gather at the library. At the library you can exchange opinions with the members of the community you are part of. And this must be preserved and developed. The library long ago ceased to be simply a book repository, giving readers access to bookshelves. The library is a living tool for strengthening and ensuring cohesive communities. Close cooperation between the institutions in the field of culture is essential for us in the years to come because only within a close partnership we can value and bring to our citizens and the citizens of the European Union the richness of our heritage, our dowry of which we are proud,” Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan stated at the event.
The exhibits include traditional costumes from the collection of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History. The Museum’s director general Petru Vicol said that the cultural heritage of the Republic of Moldova can be saved only by integrating it into the European space.
Aurelia Duca, a visitor of the exhibition born in Gordinești village of Rezina district, who has lived in the U.S. for about 20 years, said that she was impressed by the exhibition. In her house in the U.S., she has a national blouse, towels crocheted by her grandmother. “I consider it very important to preserve the national traditions. I grew up at the time of the Soviet Union, but I kept a love for traditions and I believe that a people, only having national heritage, can maintain its culture. We can assert ourselves all over the world through the culture and traditions that are specific to the Romanian people because such national costumes and dances, such picturesque places can be found only in the Republic of Moldova,” said Aurelia Duca.
Aurelia Duca’s husband, Barry Fox, who is visiting Moldova for the second time, confessed that he liked an impressive collection of books, especially those on national coins, and believes that this exhibition has several objects that could arouse the interest of tourists.
The exhibition entitled “Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Moldova, an integral part of the European Cultural Heritage” was mounted in connection with the European Heritage Days 2024. It can be visited in the central block of the National Library of the Republic of Moldova until December 30.
