The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
MASTERPIECES OF BYZANTINE ART, the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina are decorated with 15th and 16th-century frescoes featuring angels, demons, heaven, hell, and other biblical scenes.
In 1993 UNESCO designated seven of the churches to its World Heritage List, giving them added protection (and a lot more visitors).
An efficient, educational way to see the Painted Monasteries is by hiring a local guide. We worked with Sorin Fodor, Bucovina local, and we couldn’t possibly give him a stronger recommendation. You can learn more about Sorin and the monasteries by visiting his site at http://paintedmonasteries.ro/
Humor Monastery - village Manastirea Humorului, Suceava county. Founded in 1530.
Voronet Monastery - Gura Humorului, Suceava county. Founded in 1487 by Stephen the Great to celebrate victory over the Turks.
Close-up of “The Last Judgement”, a fresco on the southern wall of Voronet, which gave the monastery the nickname, "The Sistine Chapel of the East", following Michelangelo's Vatican masterpiece. Here you see the souls of people eaten by animals tearing their way out on judgement day.
The dramatic countryside of northeastern Romania.
Sucevita Monastery - village Sucevita, Suceava county. Founded in 1581. This monastery is completely surrounded by massive stone walls.
Sucevita Monastery - village Sucevita, Suceava county. Founded in 1581. This monastery is completely surrounded by massive stone walls.
Mushroom season! Produce stands filled with loose mushrooms dotted the streets.
This less-visited monastery is what the rest would still look like if not for restoration efforts.
The interiors were covered as well.
NOTES:
A good jumping-off point for exploring the monasteries is Gura Humoului (25 miles west of Suceava). Guesthouses are also available in Sucevita.
The monasteries are open Monday through Sunday from 9am to 6:30pm. You are asked to refrain from taking photos during morning and afternoon mass.
———-
VERDICT: Mostly Harmless
