The Roma quarter that crowns the limestone bluff above Soroca is one of Moldova's most astonishing sights — and one of the most photographed streetscapes in the entire country. Known as Ţigănia or, colloquially, Gypsy Hill, the neighbourhood is a dense concentration of palatial mansions built by wealthy Roma families over the last few decades. The buildings are extravagant to the point of surrealism: domed roofs in gold and silver, neoclassical columns flanking entrances fit for a state ministry, turrets, statues, and baroque ornamentation compete for attention on every block. Some are modelled loosely on the White House; others appear to reference Versailles; others defy any obvious reference point entirely.
The wealth that built these houses was accumulated through trade, metalwork, and migration — many owners spent years working abroad and invested their earnings back into ever-more-spectacular family homes. The neighbourhood is a living community, not a museum, so walk with appropriate respect. The best approach is the steep road that climbs from near the fortress; the views back down to the river and the fortress are reward enough for the ascent.