Tour of Bucovina and its Beautiful Painted Monasteries

Day by Day Itinerary:

TOUR 1: 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS STARTING FROM IASI

Day 1:
ROUTING: IASI
- Your English-speaking specialist guide will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Iasi (Note: If you are beginning in Bucharest you can check flight with www.tarom.ro  )
- Day at your leisure
- Overnight in Iasi
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Unirea****


Day 2:
ROUTING: IASI - SUCEAVA - PUTNA - MARGINEA - VORONET/HUMOR
- Breakfast
- Start the day exploring the city of Iasi, with the main attractions of the City (Culture Palace, Cathedral, etc..).
- Depart on the route to Suceava, former capital of Moldavia in the medieval ages. Here we visit Suceava Citadel, which was built during the rule of the Prince Petru I Musat (1375-1391), having 10 m high and 2 m thick defense walls and a defense tower in every corner, the entrance into the citadel being realized by crossing a bridge with piers. Here died Stephen the Great.
- Continue our route to the region of outside painted monasteries from Bucovina. First two who will be visited are Putna Monastery and Arbore Monastery.
- Putna: The beginnings of Putna Monastery, the most important religious, cultural and artistic centre in medieval Moldavia, take us back to the year 1466 when, upon the initiative of Prince Stephen the Great , a church of impressive dimensions was built on a patch of forest cleared for the purpose. The edifice was erected among 1466 and 1469 and consecrated in 1470; to it was added a few more buildings: a princely home standing on the southern side, outer walls and defense towers; all of them completed in 1481. Miniature painters, many embroiderers, icon makers, weavers, silversmiths, sculptors in wood and book-binders toiled on in the quiet atmosphere of the monks' cells at Putna. They continued valuable Romanian patterns and achieved works of great artistic value which today are the pride of all museums and libraries housing them.
- Special mention should be made of the sumptuous and elegant Four Gospels created here, adorned with miniatures in which perfect drawing combines with a motley color scheme in which gold prevails, as well as the fine embroideries (epitaphs, iconostasis curtains, coverings of tetrapods and of graves, stoles, etc.), many of them on show in the museum of the monastery.
- Arbore Monastery, built between the 2nd of April and the 29th of August 1503, by Luca Arbore, one of Stephen the Greatâ™s generals, in the village of Soloca, that he owned. The monument has been consecrated to the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Having a rectangular plan, the church has walls made of raw stone and vaults made of brick. Smaller than other painted churches, Arbore has a gloomy narthex and a nave with large windows. There is no steeple, as it was built by a landowner, and not by a ruling prince. It has remarkable fresco exterior and interior paintings against a predominant green background, unlike Voronet, where blue predominates. The green is in five shadows and 47 hues combined with red, blue, yellow, pink and ochre. The secret of combining colors was kept by Moldavian master painters to their grave, and is now lost in the mist of time. However, scientists were able to identify thirty substances, including animal size, vinegar, egg, gall and honey. Restorers cannot hope to duplicate the paint: they can only stabilize what has been left of the frescoes.
- Last stop at Marginea Black Pottery Center where you can see the old procedures of hand made ceramics production and also you can visit the centerâ™s shop.
- End the day in the area of Humor or Voronet.
- Overnight in Voronet or Gura Humorului
ACCOMMODATION: Hildeâ™s Residence****
B

Day 3:
ROUTING: VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI - MOLDOVITA - SUCEVITA - VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI
- Breakfast
- Today we visit some of the World famous Painted Monasteries
- Voronet: founded in 1488 by Stephen the Great. It is the most accomplished sample of artistic achievement in Moldavian architecture and painting . The doors of the porch have a Renaissance framing, whereas the stone carvings of the broken arches at the doors and windows belong to the Gothic style. Voronet Monastery had been dubbed the oriental Sistine Chapel , whereas Voronet Blue , a color obtained from lapis lazuli, entered in the lexicon of art alongside Titian red and Veronese green, and to this day has yet to be reproduced by natural means
- Moldovita: dates back from 1532 and is due to the ruling prince Petru Rares. It has the aspect of a fortress, with imposing towers and high, thick walls. The church has a three-cusped plan, as well as an open porch. It Is decorated with scenes from the 16th c Moldavian life. You can see here the best preserved frescoes, with fresh and vivid colors
- Sucevita: the last and the most magnificent monastic achievement among the painted monasteries in Bucovina , looks as a real fortress, with towers, buttresses and watch roads. Built in 1581, by one bishop, it was dedicated to the Assumption in 1584. Paintings of the Sucevita monastery were best preserved both on the outside and on the inside (Ladder of Virtue, the last Judgment, the tree of Jesse)
- Overnight in Voronet or Gura Humorului
ACCOMMODATION: Hildeâ™s Residence****
B


Day 4:
ROUTING: VORONET/HUMOR - IASI
- Breakfast
- Early morning transfer to airport
- Drop off on departures level and final good-bye
B

End of tour services
______________________________________________________

TOUR 2: 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS STARTING FROM BUCHAREST

Day 1:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST
- Your English-speaking specialist guide will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Bucharest
- Day at your leisure
- Overnight in Bucharest
ACCOMMODATION: Crystal Palace Hotel ****


Day 2:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - BACAU - AGAPIA - VARATEC - VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI
- Breakfast
- Depart Bucharest begin our journey to the northern region of Romania â“ Bucovina, the land of painted monasteries and traditions.
- On the way stop for visits at Agapia and Varatec monasteries.
- The New Agapia Monastery (Agapia-in-the-Valley): - its patrons saints are "The Archangels Mihail & Gavril". The front walls of the monastery are covered with paintings of neoclassical inspiration.
- The Varatec Monastery: a rather recent monastic settlement. Like the big church Agapia has its neo-Classical elements, but these are synthesized with a traditional Moldavian style which includes a line of neo-Byzantine blind arcading under the eaves. The monastery has a museum that hosts many valuable religious objects and books mostly made by the nuns. Apart from museum, Varatec has studios for carpet waving, embroidery and icon painting.
- In the afternoon we will continue to Tg. Neamt town where we will visit the great old medieval citadel, the aurochs reservation etc...
- Today our route ends at Voronet
- Overnight in Voronet or Gura Humorului
ACCOMMODATION: Hildeâ™s Residence****
B

Day 3:
ROUTING: VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI â“ MOLDOVITA â“ SUCEVITA â“ PUTNA - VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI
- Breakfast
- Today we visit some of the World famous Painted Monasteries
- Voronet: founded in 1488 by Stephen the Great. It is the most accomplished sample of artistic achievement in Moldavian architecture and painting . The doors of the porch have a Renaissance framing, whereas the stone carvings of the broken arches at the doors and windows belong to the Gothic style. Voronet Monastery had been dubbed the oriental Sistine Chapel , whereas Voronet Blue , a color obtained from lapis lazuli, entered in the lexicon of art alongside Titian red and Veronese green, and to this day has yet to be reproduced by natural means
- Moldovita: dates back from 1532 and is due to the ruling prince Petru Rares. It has the aspect of a fortress, with imposing towers and high, thick walls. The church has a three-cusped plan, as well as an open porch. It Is decorated with scenes from the 16th c Moldavian life. You can see here the best preserved frescoes, with fresh and vivid colors
- Sucevita: the last and the most magnificent monastic achievement among the painted monasteries in Bucovina , looks as a real fortress, with towers, buttresses and watch roads. Built in 1581, by one bishop, it was dedicated to the Assumption in 1584. Paintings of the Sucevita monastery were best preserved both on the outside and on the inside (Ladder of Virtue, the last Judgment, the tree of Jesse)
- Putna: The beginnings of Putna Monastery, the most important religious, cultural and artistic centre in mediaeval Moldavia, take us back to the year 1466 when, upon the initiative of Prince Stephen the Great, a church of impressive dimensions was built on a patch of forest cleared for the purpose. The edifice was erected among 1466 and 1469 and consecrated in 1470; to it was added a few more buildings: a princely home standing on the southern side, outer walls and defence towers; all of them completed in 1481. Miniature painters, many embroiderers, icon makers, weavers, silversmiths, sculptors in wood and book-binders toiled on in the quiet atmosphere of the monks' cells at Putna. They continued valuable Romanian patterns and achieved works of great artistic value which today are the pride of all museums and libraries housing them. Special mention should be made of the sumptuous and elegant Four Gospels created here, adorned with miniatures in which perfect drawing combines with a motley color scheme in which gold prevails, as well as the fine embroideries (epitaphs, iconostasis curtains, coverings of tetrapods and of graves, stoles, etc.), many of them on show in the museum of the monastery.
- Overnight in Voronet or Gura Humorului
ACCOMMODATION: Hildeâ™s Residence****
B


Day 4:
ROUTING: VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI â“ SUCEAVA - VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI
- Breakfast
- Start our trip to a visit at Humor Monastery located in Gura Humorului village.
- Humor Monastery: dates from 1530, this monastery was among the first churches to be painted, the frescoes were painted in 1535. Humor is painted in reddish brown (from oriental madder pigment), colors are brilliant and truthful to nature
- Than a visit at the Arbore Monastery, built between the 2nd of April and the 29th of August 1503, by Luca Arbore, one of Stephen the Greatâ™s generals, in the village of Soloca, that he owned. The monument has been consecrated to the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Having a rectangular plan, the church has walls made of raw stone and vaults made of brick. Smaller than other painted churches, Arbore has a gloomy narthex and a nave with large windows. There is no steeple, as it was built by a landowner, and not by a ruling prince. It has remarkable fresco exterior and interior paintings against a predominant green background, unlike Voronet, where blue predominates. The green is in five shadows and 47 hues combined with red, blue, yellow, pink and ochre. The secret of combining colours was kept by Moldavian master painters to their grave, and is now lost in the mist of time. However, scientists were able to identify thirty substances, including animal size, vinegar, egg, gall and honey. Restorers cannot hope to duplicate the paint: they can only stabilize what has been left of the frescoes.
- In the afternoon visit the old capital of Moldavia â“ the city of Suceava. Here we visit Suceava Citadel, which was built during the rule of the Prince Petru I Musat (1375-1391), having 10 m high and 2 m thick defense walls and a defense tower in every corner, the entrance into the citadel being realized by crossing a bridge with piers. Here died Stephen the Great.
- Overnight in Voronet or Gura Humorului
ACCOMMODATION: Hildeâ™s Residence****
B


Day 5:
ROUTING: VORONET/GURA HUMORULUI - TARGU NEAMT â“ BUCHAREST
- Breakfast
- Begin our the route to visit Neamt Monastery, one of the oldest and most important of its kind in Romania. It was built in 14th century, and it is an example of medieval moldavian architecture.
- Then visit the Neamt Citadel, (if time permits) one of the main medieval citadels from Moldavia.
- Continue the route to Bucharest where weâ™ll arrive in the evening
- Overnight in a Bucharest
ACCOMMODATION: Crystal Palace Hotel ****
B

Day 6:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - BUCHAREST AIRPORT
- Breakfast
- Early morning transfer to airport
- Drop off on departures level and final good-bye
B

End of tour services

Inquiry | Book It!

Select and click the button

Home | Contact Us | About Us | Romania Tours & Vacations | Destination Guide of Romania
Customized Tours Romania | Tour Attractions in Romania | Related Links