Your Travel Experience with Finest Journeys
Monasteries of Bucovina
The day begins with a visit to Humor Monastery, a cross-shaped church built in 1530 under the rule of Petru Rareș. Dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin, its red-toned frescoes depict scenes from saints' lives and the battles against the Turks. The peaceful courtyard, filled with flowers, provides a quiet contrast to the outside world, where nuns continue their way of life as they have for centuries. Next is Marginea, where artisans have preserved an ancient technique of crafting black pottery. The clay is shaped, fired, and polished entirely by hand, with the deep black hue resulting from a firing method passed down for generations. The craftsmanship of these pieces has gained recognition beyond Romania. Sucevița Monastery, the most recent of Bucovina’s Painted Monasteries, reflects a blend of Moldavian, Gothic, and Byzantine styles. Its murals are known for their distinctive green tones, created using natural pigments through a technique that remains a mystery. Moldovița Monastery, completed in 1537, was once a place where locals, unable to read, learned biblical stories through its frescoes. The artwork blends religious themes with key moments from the region’s past. Once you have spent the day visiting these beautiful monasteries, you will return to Gura Humorului for your second overnight stay.