The Painted Monasteries

Itinerary: Iasi – The Painted Monasteries – Iasi 
Duration: 3 days 
Best way of transportation: car

» Day 1: Iasi
Fly in from Bucharest or from Vienna or take the express train from Bucharest to Iasi and rent a car. Drive to the centuriesold Cotnari vineyards. Take a wine tasting tour and try some of Romania’s finest sweet white wines: Grasa de Cotnari, Tamaioasa and Feteasca Alba. Enjoy dinner in a monastery and a Byzantine vocal concert by students at the Theological Institute of lasi. Overnight in lasi.

» Day 2: Iasi – The Painted Monasteries Area
Drive northwest to Gura Humorului and discover the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. Visit the three best-preserved 15th century monasteries: Moldovita, Sucevita and Voronet, the latter known as the “Sistine Chapel of the East.” Overnight at a hotel in Gura Humorului or in one of the many B&Bs (Pensiune) in the nearby towns.

» Day 3: The Painted Monasteries Area – Iasi
Return to Iasi. Iasi is often overlooked by many visitors but the city continues to be one of Romania’s most important cultural centres and home to the country’s first university. In 1565, Iasi became the capital of the historic province of Moldova and for a short period of time, from 1859 until 1862, the capital of Romania. Iasi is among the very few cities in the world which have more than 100 Orthodox churches.

Itineraries painted monasteries, romania, voronet