Itinerary

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 )
- 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 Great'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 center's
shop.
- End the day in the area of Humor or Voronet.
- Overnight in Voronet or Gura Humorului
ACCOMMODATION: Hilde'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: Hilde'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

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Tour 1: 3 nights or Tour 2: 5 nights accommodation as described on the itinerary (or similar) , (B) Breakfast daily, except on the day of arrival , English,Speaking Specialist guide for the duration of the tour , Transportation in private car or minivan , Credit Card Transaction Fee** , Local Taxes

Exclusions -

Airfare - Alcoholic drinks - Gratuities - Extra charges of hotel, eg. Laundry, telephone or fax charges, room service, etc.. - Lunches and Dinners - Entrance fees and photo charges to the monuments (to be paid directly) - Insurance

Extras -

Discover the gems of Northern Romania with a private driver guide on this
tour; see the beautiful painted monasteries of Bucovina. The frescos of the
painted monasteries in the north are among the most picturesque treasures of
Romania. Set amidst the scenery of the surrounding mountains in villages known
for their traditional way of life. Each fresco tells a different biblical story
on its painted walls of on the outside and inside of the monasteries, as well on
the ceiling of the interior. The Monasteries were built mostly by one of
Romania's greatest heroes; Stephan the Great. The fortified walls were used to
help ward off invading Ottoman forces.

Upon arrival to Iasi you will be introduced to Romania's Northern province of
Moldavia by your driver/guide. Moldavia; one of the 3 original regions of
Romania. Along the way you will have some opportunities to explore this
beautiful region. The first day will be in the city of Iasi, the capital of the
province.

Begining the next day start with a brief tour of the city of Iasi including the
Culture Palace. Continuing on our path to Southern Bucovina you will get a
chance to visit 2 charming monasteries of this region; The Putna Monastery - the
most important religious, cultural and artistic centre in medieval Moldavia,
take us back to the year 1466; and The Arbore Monastery - remarkable fresco
exterior and interior paintings against a predominant green background. We will
also stop by the citadel of Suceava. Ending the day in Vornet where you will be
spending the next 3 nights in a unique and cozy guesthouse with traditional
elements.

The following 2 days are filled with fresco delight. You will get a chance to
see such great monasteries such as Humour, Vornet, Suceavita, Putna, and
Moldovita - which was founded in 1488 by Stephen the Great. These and much more
surprises will be included on this tour of Bucovina. For more details refer to
the day by day itinerary. Hope to see you soon!

Discover the gems of Northern Romania!!!