The Candle of Gratitude stands at the highest point of the Soroca bluff, a tall stone memorial in the form of a lit candle. The monument was built to honour the memory of Moldovan ancestors — a broadly patriotic gesture that sits somewhat uncomfortably alongside the town's complex history of Ottoman, Russian, and Soviet rule, but which has genuine meaning for local people. The hilltop location is the real draw: on a clear day the views extend over the entire Dniester valley, with Ukrainian villages visible on the far bank and the dramatic limestone landscape stretching in every direction. Combine a visit here with the walk through Ţigănia — the two are within ten minutes of each other on foot.
Candle of Gratitude
A story
The monument was conceived by a local man, Vasile Bîclea, who spent years campaigning for its construction as a tribute to Moldova's ancestors. When it was finally inaugurated in 2004, it became one of the most recognisable symbols in the entire country — a somewhat unexpected honour for a city of 25,000.