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3rd Day: Putna - Radauti - Sucevita - Moldovita- Bukovina. The last monastery, which is also the
The sacred land of the Marginea (Km. 140) most famous in Romania and the most impres-
sive among all of them, is the Voronet Monas-
After breakfast visit of the orthodox Putna Mon-
Monasteries of Bukovina astery (28km northwest from Radauti, where tery: named the “Sistine Chapel of the East”, its
7 days we will pass by), one of the most important cul- external part features an intense shade of blue
tural, religious and artistic centers established
known as “Voronet blue”, which is really impres-
in the Middle Age. It houses the tombs of Ste- sive for tourists. In the afternoon we will attend
Bukovina is the region of 2000 monasteries lo- phen, which is nowadays a place of pilgrimage, to the famous art of egg painting, which repre-
cated between Romania and Ukraine. This area and several tombs of his family. The icons and sents an old tradition in Bukovina. This work has
of the Carpathians, which is part of the World tombstones are considered as great examples of an incredibile artistic value and requires an end-
Heritage Site protected by UNESCO, was officially Moldavian art. less patience. Walk in the centuries-old forest of
named Bukovina in 1775 with the annexation to Slatioara, a natural reservation with a surface of
the Habsburg Empire. The name chosen by the Bucovina 1064 hectares, one of the eldest forests in Roma-
Germans derived from the Polish “Bukowina”, nia and even in Europe. Its trees are more than
which in turn was derived from the slavic word 350-400 y.o. and there are many natural mon-
“buk” (beech tree). uments such as the taxus and the rock mouse
ear. Five new species of butterflies were discov- Business Proposals in Balkans
1st Day: Romania / Piatra Neamt ered here, one of them is endemic, the “Carabus
Arrival in the wonderful city of Piatra Neamt, a rarauense”.
mountain resort also called the Pearl of Moldo- Dinner and overnight.
va. This place is located 350 kilometres north of
Bucharest, at an altitude of 300m, and it’s sur- 5th Day: Cacica Salt Mine - Reservation of Targu
rounded by mountains with heights varying be- Neamt - “Towers” Pietrele Doamnei (Km. 100)
tween 500-900m. The Romanian word “Piatra” In the morning visit of the teraupeuthical Cacica
means rock and it has always been part of the Salt Mine.
settlement’s name of this town, while “Neamt” Curiosity: the salt mine was carved out by hu-
means German, thus the toponym’s translation is man labour, which means without any machin-
“German rock”. ery. The huge salt mountain is estimated to be
Dinner and overnight. able to supply all of Europe for almost 400 years!
The word “Cacica” derives from the Polish “kaczi-
2nd Day: Piatra Neamt - Varatec - Agapia - Ho- ka”, which means “duck”, due to the presence of
raita- Neamt - Secu - Baia - Bukovina (Km. 140) many lakes hosting wild ducks in the region.
After breakfast visit of the Varatec Monastery, Visit of the Natural Reservation of European bi-
founded in 1785, where was buried the wife of sons of Targu Neamt or horse riding in the Nat-
the most famous Romanian poet, Mihai Emines- Curiosity: the prince Stephen went on top of ural reservation of Lucina or hiking in the Rarau
cu. the hill upon Putna and shot 3 arrows. The exact Montains (part of the Carpathians). From this
Curiosity: although the monastery is small-sized point where the first arrow fell is the place where point you will reach Pietrele Doamnei (the Lady’s
it hosts more than 300 nuns. In their cloister a the holy well was built. The position of the altar Stones), magnificent “Gothic towers” 70 meters
museum was set up, which contains medieval was determined by the second arrow, while the high, formed of alpine limestone. Dinner and
documents and icons of high value. bell tower from the third one. overnight.
Next, visit of the women’s Agapia Monastery, Proceed to Sucevita Monastery, built on a re-
at an height of 450m. The wooden Church of Sf. treat. It is considered as the widest and most 6th Day: Suceava - Dragomirna - Campulung
Ioan Bogoslov dates from the 14th century and it beautiful monastery of Bukovina and from a Moldovenesc (Km. 130)
exhibits the frescoes of the most significant Ro- chronological point of vue is the last one built In the morning we will visit the Suceava Cita-
manian painter Nicolae Grigorescu. with exterior frescoes. del, built during the Reign of prince Petru Musat
Curiosity: In the past century writers and artists Curiosity: the main colour of the paintings is the (1375-1391). The walls are 10 meters high and 2
used to come find peace and inspiration in this deep green of the sea waters. This colour derives meters thick and the Citadel has a defence tower
place. from malachite, largely widespread for this type in every corner. This is the place where Stephen
After the visit of the Horaita Monastery with his of paintings. The western wall of the Church the Great died.
remarkable Asian influences, we will arrive at the doesn’t house any frescoes: according to the Curiosity: every year by the end of June the reli-
most ancient monastery of Moldova, the Neamt legend, after the death of the master builder the gious “Suceava days” take place. This event has
Monastery. The religious settlement is part of workers didn’t really want to follow his steps. The religious roots, but it gradually turned out to be a
the Romanian Orthodox Church and its building northern wall hosts a masterpiece, the “Stairway celebration with gallons of beer, food and music
started in 1370. In 1954-1960 the monastery was of Virtues”, with 32 steps leading to heaven. until late at night.
renewed, so that nowadays the most important The Monastery of Moldovita is the smallest one 12 km from Suceava, next to the forest and to a
works can be found in the libraries of Oxford, among the religious buildings and it’s also the lake as well, there is the Dragomirna Monastery.
Moscow and Bucharest. only one to be a nunnery. The prevalent colour of It was built in the 17 century and is the tallest
th
Curiosity: there is a macabre, but really beloved its frescoes is yellow-ochre. medieval monastery in Bukovina. The architec-
destination in this area, namely the chamber of Curiosity: the monastery was depicted on a ture is really impressive, because here many
the tombs, where many skulls are exposed. On stamp issued by the Romanian postage in 1968. different building styles have been pleasantly
these skulls are represented the effigies or names Visit of the Black Ceramics factory in Marginea. combined. In the afternoon departure and visit
of the monks, to whom those skulls belonged. Ceramics has played a prominent role in the de- of Campulung Moldovenesc with its Wood Art 397
Stop at Secu Monastery (1602), where in 1821 velopment of this region, due to its geographical Museum, which is unique in the country. It holds
took place the 14-days long Turkish attack. The position, to the forests in the surroundings, to a rich patrimony including over 15.000 wood
Monastery reminds of a fort. In the white and the Sucevita River with its clay soil. All these fea- pieces. Afterwards visit of the Spoons Collection
wooden court is a narrow Church built in 1830, tures are fundamental for the craft born from the of prof. Ioan Tugui made up of 4830 wooden
characterised by a mixture of classical, Moldavi- magic triangle made up of water, water and fire. spoons coming from many countries. Dinner and
an and Vlachs architecture. The Church exhibits Dinner and overnight in Bukovina. last overnight in Bukovina.
an icon dating from the 17th century and brought
from Cyprus by the Moldavian sovereign Vasile 4th Day: Humor - Voronet - Slatioara (km. 110) 7th Day: Bukovina - Bucharest (Km. 450)
Lupu (named the Wolf). Continue to Baia Mon- In the morning visit of the Humor Monastery, After breakfast we will leave the sacred land of
astery, founded by Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the whose dominant colour is red. In comparison to Bukovina heading back to Bucharest and passing
Great) . Arrival in Bukovina (north of Moldova), the other monasteries, this one has no bell tow- by Piatra Neamt, Bacau, Focsani, Buzau. Arrival at
typical dinner and overnight. er and is surrounded by wooden ramparts. The airport in the afternoon.
traditional porch is one of the first examples in
Itinerari Religiosi Religious Tours