Bukovina & Moldova

When you visit Bukovina and Moldova maybe the first feeling you will have is that Romania is such a beautiful country and could live very well only from tourism. When you plan a visit here, in the northern Moldova, of course, you have to see the famous painted monasteries. But these are not the only point of interest in an area where nature and landscapes will delight you more than anything else.

We can say, without mistaking, that Moldova competes seriously with Transylvania in terms of traditions, folklore, culture and spirituality.

Iasi, the cultural capital of Moldova

A trip here, focused on monasteries and spirituality, can begin very well with Iasi city, the cultural capital of Moldova. Here you can find almost 100 Orthodox churches. One of the most important to visit is the Church of the Three Hierarchs, built in 1639, with sculpted decorations, like a lace, on the entire building surface. Also, if you are in Iasi city you should not miss the Palace of Culture and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Other important places to visit in Iasi city: Golia Monastery, Nicolae Domnesc Church, Galata Monastery, Ion Creanga’s Bojdeuca, Roznovanu Palace, Vasile Alecsandri National Theater.

Bukovina: The famous painted monasteries from Moldova

A spiritual and artistic treasure of Moldava is represented, perhaps best, by the famous painted monasteries, included in UNESCO World heritage sites.

Unique in the world, the monasteries in Bukovina were built in the 15th and 16th centuries, and almost all have outside paintings in vibrant colors, representing religious scenes.

Some of the most beautiful monasteries in Moldova:

– Built in 1488, Voronet Monastery is one of the most famous and most visited monasteries of Moldova, being appreciated for its uniqueness. It was called the Sistine Chapel of the East, because the monastery has an impressive number of paintings.

– Putna Monastery is also one of the most popular Moldovan cults, being built in 1466 by Stefan cel Mare.

– The Sucevita Monastery is attested in 1582 and is located near Radauti. The complex of the monastery is based on a legend that says that for some sins, a woman has, for 30 years, brought the building stone with her horse or buff. Decorated with interior and exterior murals, the monastery is one of the most beautiful representations of the Byzantine and Gothic style.

– Moldovita Monastery is one of the most important and old settlements of the monks. The church is also a painted exterior and was built in 1532 under the foundation of Petru Rares. The Byzantine and Gothic architectural styles were combined here to create one of the most beautiful monasteries of Moldova and a symbol of the Orthodox religious culture.

Agapia Monastery is an Orthodox monastery of nuns, located near Targu Neamt. It was built between 1641 and 1643 and includes several objectives, including the „St. Voievozi „, the wooden church” Sf. Ioan Bogoslov „, the bell tower and cellars and many more.

Places to visit:

• Ceahlau Natural Park
• Cheile Bicazului – Hasmasu Park
• Vanatori Park
• The mine at Cacica
• The Citadel of Suceava
• Museum of Bukovina village
• Dragomirna Monastery
• Vatra Dornei

Bukovina: Traditional food

Moldovan cuisine is composed mainly of European traditional foods such as beef, pork, potatoes, cabbage and various cereals.

Meat products have a special place, especially as the first course and aperitif. Chicken soup, known as borscht (soup) is very popular. Grilled pork steaks and beef and lamb steaks are common. Fish is often marinated and then grilled.

Traditional festive dishes include “sarmale” stuffed with minced meat, pilaf (a kind of rice dish) and chicken. The celebration table is usually decorated with pastries, cakes and rolls. Also, one of the most popular dish of Moldavian cuisine, as well as the Romanian one as a whole, is the “mămăligă”. This is a boil of corn flour, often served as an accompaniment to meat dishes.

Vineyards

When you visit Moldova it’s a must to try the wines from this area. With a history of about 2.000 years, Moldavian Plateau is one of the most famous vineyards in Europe. The well-known vineyards in this region are Cotnari, Bucium, Averesti, Bujoru, Panciu, Odobesti and much more.

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