Rachel has admitted to having a thing for monasteries and I share some of that myself.  Her sister-in-law clued her in to this little-known gem, the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina which made for a great podcast.  This is a group of 48 monasteries (so-called, even though nuns live there) whose walls are painted with biblical themes in very vivid colors. The most famous is the Voronet, which is referred to as the Sistine Chapel of the East. But unlike that religious edifice in Italy, this one has maintained its brilliant colors throughout the years. I could give you more description but why not view this video instead?  The surrounding countryside is beautiful too.

Practical Info

How to Get There:  Take a flight from Bucharest to the town of Suceava via Tarom (the Romanian airline), about an hour’s flight. (Train service is possible too but will take much longer.) From there, rent a car to drive between the monasteries, which are about half an hour from each other.  You could also join an organized tour, but many people feel these are too rushed as they try to cover the main monasteries all in one day.

Visa Requirements: Visas to Romania are not required for citizens of the USA, EU, Canada or certain other countries who stay less than 90 days.  For more information, check this link to the various Romanian embassies worldwide.

When to go:  Summer is best.

Entry Fees:  Very reasonable, the equivalent of about $1 US.  Some monasteries charge a few extra dollars for picture-taking on the grounds (no photography inside the churches).

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