Day trip from Iasi to the UNESCO Painted Monasteries in Bucovina

Voronet Monastery was built in 1488 in record time: three months, three weeks and three days, today being part of the UNESCO heritage. The exterior murals have preserved their hues despite centuries of inclement weather, but the ingredients used in preparing the paints are still a mystery. The scenes in the murals depict, like a movie, the history of Christianity, presented in an original manner, very much influenced by folk beliefs, by the Eastern culture, but also by the Orthodox thought.

Moldovita Monastery, included in the UNESCO heritage in 1993, was built between 1532 and 1537. For hundreds of years, the murals were the only way uneducated country dwellers could learn about the teachings of the Bible. The frescoes are an immense color illustration of Biblical scenes, adapted to the history of the place and to the important moments in the life of the community.

Sucevita Monastery is the newest of the Painted Monasteries of Bukovina, and it was included in the UNESCO Heritage in 1993. It was built in a Moldavian style, with Gothic and Byzantine influences. The murals are dominated by a shade of green, obtained through an ancient technique from natural pigments.