vineri, 28 decembrie 2012

joi, 27 decembrie 2012

Romania Grand Tour- Bucovina

12 days / 11 nights
from 995 euro/person
March till October




Day 1 Bucharest
Arrival at Bucharest International Airport.
Transfer at the hotel.
Accommodation in Bucharest.
Day 2 Bucharest-Targu Namt-Oglinzi   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure to Targu Neamt-Oglinzi.
Arrival nearby Targu Neamt, at Oglinzi.
Afternoon visit of Neamt Medieval Citadel and Ion Creanga Memorial House
Dinner.
Accomodation in Oglinzi.
Day 3 Oglinzi-Suceava-Sucevita-Voronet   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure to Suceava, former Medieval Capital of Moldova Province, between 1388 and 1564.
Panoramic city tour of Suceava: Equestrian Statue of Stefan cel Mare, the Medieval Citadel. Departure to Sucevita. Short stop to visit the village of Marginea, famous Romanian ceramic centre. Continue to Sucevita. Visit of the Monastery, Unesco Patrimony. Departure to Voronet.
Arrival in Voronet.
Dinner.
Accommodation in Voronet.
Day 4 Voronet-Humor-Moldovita-Pasul Prislop-Botiza   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Visit of Voronet Monastery, Unesco Patrimony, famous for the „Last Supper” painting as well as for its unique „Voronet Blue”. It is consideres as „Sixteen Chapel of the East”.
Departure for Humor. Visit of the Monastery, Unesco Patrimony.
Departure for Moldovita. Visit of the Monastery, also Unesco Patrimony. Departure for Maramures region, crossing the famous Prislop Pass at more than 1400 m altitude. If this day will be on 15-th of August, you can attend one of the most famous traditional Festivals in Romania: “Hora la Prislop”/ ”Prislop Festival”.
Arrival in Botiza, a famous village in Maramures.
Check-in in pensions, in the neighborhood.
Traditional dinner.
Accommodation in pensions in Botiza.
Day 5 Botiza-Barsana-Sighetu Marmatiei-Sapanta-Botiza   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure to Birsana. We visit the impressive complex of Wooden Churches ‘Entrance of Virgin Mary in the Church’.
Departure to Sighetu Marmatiei.
Walking city tour of Sighetu Marmatiei.
Departure to Sapanta.
Visit of the famous Merry Cemetery.
Visit of Sapanta-Peri Wooden Church, Unesco Patrimony.
Back to Botiza.
Traditional dinner.
Accommodation in Botiza.
Day 6 Botiza-Vaser Valley steam train-Ieud-Botiza   ->   breakfast, pique nique lunch, dinner
Early breakfast.
Departure to Viseu de Sus. After 45 min of driving we arrive at Viseu de Sus at the steam train railway station. Adventure is about to begin.
After aprox 40 km steam train ride, we disembark from the train to serve pique nique lunch.
Back in the train and ride back to Viseu de Sus. Disembark from the train and drive to Ieud. Visit of “Biserica din Deal” / ”Church on the Hill, one of the oldest wooden churches in Romania. Here was discovered, at the end of XVI-th century (1391-1392), “Codicele de la Ieud”, an old Romanian manuscript. Back to Botiza.
Visit of the village, with its traditional activities: water whirlpool, water mill, tzouika distillery, textile handicrafts. Traditional dinner.
Accommodation in Botiza.
Day 7 Botiza-Budesti-Surdesti-Cluj-Napoca   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast
We continue to visit other Maramures Wooden Churches: Budesti, Surdesti.
Departure for Cluj-Napoca.
Cluj-Napoca panoramic city tour.
Traditional dinner.
Accomodation in Cluj-Napoca.
Day 8 Cluj-Napoca-Turda-Alba Iulia-Sibiu   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure to Turda.
Visit of Turda Salt Mine, impressive renovated old salt mine.
Departure to Alba Iulia. Panoramic city tour of Alba Iulia, considered to be Romania’s Union Capital.
Departure to Sibiu.
Astra Museum visit in Sibiu, one of the richest ethnographical museums on Earth! Walking city tour of Sibiu, European Cultural Capital in 2007: Large Square, Small Square, Catholic Cathedral, The Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary, Orthodox Cathedral, Liar’s Bridge.
Dinner.
Accomodation in Sibiu.
Day 9 Sibiu-Biertan-Sighisoara   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure for Biertan, the most impressive fortified church in Transylvania, former headquarter of Transylvanian Evangelical Church, for almost three centuries.
Departure for Sighisoara, the jewel of Transylvania.
Visit of Shighisoara Medieval Citadel, the only citadel in Europe entirely inhabited. Medieval city tour: Clock Tower (the best preserved monument) and the City Museum, Vlad Dracul House, Stag House, Venetian House, Stairs House, Catholic Cathedral on the top of the hill (the third largest Catholic Cathedral in Romania after The Black Church in Brasov and Saint Michael’s Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca).
Dinner.
Accommodation in Sighisoara.
Day 10  Sighisoara-Brasov-Bran-Sinaia   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure for Brasov.
Medieval city walking tour: City Hall Square, Black Church. Departure for Bran. Visit of the famous Bran Castle, connected to Dracula legend. Departure for Sinaia. Visit of Peles Castle, former Romanian Royale Family summer residence.
Dinner.
Accomodation in Sinaia.
Day 11 Sinaia-Bucharest   ->   breakfast
Breakfast.
Departure to Bucharest.
Visit of Parliament Palace, the second largest building on Earth, after the Pentagon un USA, actually the first civil building on Earth (The Pentagon is a military building). Continue with panoramic tour of Bucharest.
Afternoon at leisure.
Accomodation in Bucharest.
Day 12  Bucharest-Flight back home   ->   breakfast
Breakfast.
Transfer at Bucharest International Airport.
Flight back home.

Tarif

995 €/person in double room, for a group of 46-50 tourists
1020 €/person in double room, for a group of 36-45 tourists
1049 €/person in double room, for a group of 26-35 tourists
Single supplement 287 €
Price includes:
  • Accommodation with breakfast included for 11 nights;
  • Transportation in modern car/minivan/coach, according to the size of the group;
  • Driver and english speaking guide
  • Dinners specified in the programme;
  • Most of meals are ecological
  • All the visits according to the programme;
  • Entrance fees for all the sights in the programme;
  • Local drinks (tzouika) in Botiza and during the pique-nique on Vaser Valley;
  • All activities according with the season;
  • All taxes;
  • Local taxes;
  • Full assistance from the moment of your arrival till your departure
Price not includes:
  • International air transportation to and from Romania;
  • Expenses of personal nature such as travel insurance, laundry, beverages etc;
  • Camera and video camera fees in tourist sites;
  • Lunches;
  • Dinners not specified in the programme;
  • Tips;
  • Drinks , except local drinks in Botiza;
  • Any optional activities.
Remarks:
  1. The program can suffer modifications with a rate of up to 15% because offlight schedule changes or line buses, without altering the general structure of the trip.
  2. The offer is limited by the availlabilities
 
Romania’s castles and andrenalin in a military resort



Arsenal Park


9 days / 8 nights
from 876 euro/person
from march to October


Day 1 Bucharest                                                              
Arrival at Bucharest International Airport.
Welcome from Romanian English speaking guide.
Transfer at the hotel.
Accommodation in Bucharest.
Day 2 Bucharest – Sinaia – Bran   ->   breakfast, dinner               
Breakfast.
We start with Parliament Palace visit, the second building on Earth, after the Pentagon, built in the ‘80’s, one of Bucharest’s landmarks.
Panoramic tour of Bucharest: Cathedral of the Patriachy, University Square, Revolution Square, Romanian Athenaeum (architectural masterpiece; here is the main hall concerts for one of the most prestigious Classical Music Festivals on Earth!), Unirii Square.
Departure to Sinaia, “The Pearl of Cartapthains”.
Arrival in Sinaia.
Visit of Peles Castle, Romanian most beautiful castle, former Romanian Royal Family summer residence. Today a very rich museum, architectural masterpiece built in German style, between 1875 and 1914.
Departure to Bran.
Dinner.
Accommodation in Bran.
Day 3 Bran – Brasov – Sighisoara   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Visit the Bran Castle, listed in Top 10 Most Famous Castles on Earth, connected to Dracula legend, one of Romania’s most prestigious touristical icon.
Built at the end of XIV-th century, Bran Castle had many owners, including Queen Maria. Today, the owner is Arquiduc Dominic of Habsburg.Among the most famous guest of the castle, ever, it was Vlad Tepes, in 1462, in his way to Visegrad (the place where he was incarcerated for 12 years).
Departure to Brasov.
Brasov walking city tour: City Hall Square, City Hall, The String Street (the narrowest stree in Eastern Europe!), The Black Church, the icon monument of Brasov.
This is the largest catholical church in Romania and the largest one between Vienna and Istanbul, gothic style architecture. Inside, one of the largest orgue in Romania and also a beautiful collection of oriental carpets.
Departure for Sighisoara.
Check in at the hotel.
Dinner with folklorical show “Junii Sibiului”.
Accommodation in Sighisoara.
Day 4 Sighisoara – Biertan – Medias – Alba Iulia – Orastie   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Visit of Sighisoara Medieval Citadel, the only citadel in Europe entirely inhabited.
Medieval walking city tour: Clock Tower (the best preserved monument) and the City Museum, Vlad Dracul House, Stag House, Venetian House, Stairs House, Catholic Cathedral on the top of the hill (the third largest Catholic Cathedral in Romania after The Black Church in Brasov and Saint Michael’s Cathedral in Sibiu).
Departure to Biertan, maybe the most famous Transylvanian Saxon village.It was the Religious Capital of Transylvanian Saxons, as Fortified Church Visit of Biertan Fortified Church, the most prestigious on UNESCO Patrimony List, among the seven Fortified Transylvanian Saxon Churches.
departure to Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia is considered to be Romania’s Union Capital.
Short visit of the city: Reunion Cathedral, Catholical Cathedral, Esquestrian Statue of Michael The Brave (the first ruler of the three Romanian Provinces, who triumplally entered in Alba Iulia on November 01-st 1599).
Departure to Orastie „Arsenal Park” , unique luxury resort lying on over 80 hectares, built on a former military base
Luxury resort accomodation which you can combine with all kind of activities in the park, including military vehicules ride, ATV etc
Dinner.
Accommodation in Orastie “Arsenal Park” ****     
Day 5 Orastie – Hunedoara Hunyadi Castle – Orastie   ->   Breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure for Hunedoara
Visit the Baroque masterpiece: Hunyadi Castle.
Afternoon activities in „ARSENAL PARK”
Dinner.  
Accommodation in Orastie “Arsenal Park” ****      www.arsenalpark.ro
Day 6 Orastie Arsenal Park   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Full day activities in „ARSENAL PARK”.
Optional 1: riding horse , at „Rahau English School”
Optional 2: shopping in Alba Iulia: famous Alba Iulia porcelain products.
Dinner.
Accommodation in Orastie “Arsenal Park” ****.
Day 7 Orastie-Sibiu   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure to Sibiu.
Arrival in Sibiu.
Visit of “Astra” Museum, one of the richest Ethnographical Museums in the world.
Transfer at the hotel.
Afternoon walking tour visit of Sibiu, European Cultural Capital in 2007: Grande Square, Little Square, Catholic Cathedral, The Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary, Orthodox Cathedral, Liar’s Bridge.
Dinner in a traditional Romanian Restaurant in Sibiu.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
Day 8 Sibiu-Curtea de Arges-Bucharest   ->   breakfast, dinner               
Breakfast.
Departure to  Curtea de Arges.
Visit of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Departure for Bucharest.
Dinner.
Accommodation in Bucharest.
Day 9 Bucharest-flight back home   ->   breakfast    
Breakfast.
Transfer to Bucharest International Airport.
Flight back home.


Tarif
Group of
persons
Period
Single Supplement
01.03-30.06
& 01.09-31.10
01.07-31.08
01.03-30.06
& 01.09-31.10
01.07-31.08
8-10
1040
1071
233
277
11-13
968
998
233
277
14-16
927
957
233
277
17-20
912
940
233
277
21 or more
876
905
233
277

Price includes:
  • Accommodation with breakfast included for 8 nights in standard double or single rooms;
  • Transportation in modern car/minivan/coach, according to the size of the group;
  • English speaking guide;
  • Dinners specified in the programme; most of meals are ecological;
  • All the visits according to the programme;
  • Entrance fees for all the sights in the programme;
  • All activities according with the programme;
  • All govt and local taxes;
  • In Arsenal Park, free access: exterior pool; games: biliard, ping-pong, darts, poker, minifotbal; sport fields: tenis, fotbal, baschetball, handball; mini tirolian; drezine; mini golf; open air  fitness;
  • Full assistance from the moment of your arrival till your departure.
Price not includes:
  • International air transportation to and from Romania;
  • Expenses of personal nature such as travel insurance, laundry, beverages etc;
  • Camera and video camera fees in tourist sites;
  • Lunches;
  • Tips;
  • Drinks;
  • Any optional activities such as ride on military vehicles, ATM, riding horse, shopping etc;
  • In Arsenal Park: military instruction 6 EUR/person; treasure hunt  8 EUR/person; airsoft fight 18 EUR/person/session, 250 balls in a limit of 60 min, to be book 72 hours in advance; max 12  players/session; paintball fight 18 EUR/person/session; 100 balls in a limit of 30 min, to be book 24 hours in advance; max 10  players/session; archery 6 EUR/person/session; 10 arrows/person; arbalette archery 11 EUR/person/session; 5 arrow/person; BB'Gun archery 6 EUR/person/session; caterpilled transportor  200 EUR/tour of 30 min; Golfcarts rent 18 EUR/hour; ATV rent 20 EUR/hour; buggy rent 25 EUR/hour; quad polaris, Yamaha rent 37 EUR/hour; Seqway rent 37 EUR/hour; 25 EUR/ 30 minutes; Jeep Wrangler Go-Kart RENT   5 EUR/hour; mountain bike rent 3 EUR/hour; 10 EUR/day; bike rent 1,5 EUR/hour; jeep rent 120 EUR/hour; 75 EUR/ 30 minutes; Johndeer rent 50 EUR/hour;
  • Any element not included in chapter “price includes”.

  Discover Romania from Bucharest to Southern Transylvania  


8 days / 7 nights
from 1105 euro/person
valid: March till October




Day 1 Bucharest                                                              
Arrival at Bucharest International Airport.
Welcome from Romanian English speaking guide.
Transfer at the hotel.
Accommodation in Bucharest.
Day 2 Bucharest – Sinaia   ->   breakfast, dinner                 
Breakfast.
We start the tour with Parliament Palace visit, the second building on Earth, after the Pentagon, built in the ‘80’s, one of Bucharest’s landmarks.
Panoramic tour of Bucharest: Cathedral of the Patriachy, University Square, Revolution Square, Romanian Athenaeum (architectural masterpiece; here is the main hall concerts for one of the moste prestigious Classical Music Festivals on Earth!), Unirii Square.
Departure to Sinaia, “The Pearl of Cartapthains”.
Arrival in Sinaia.
Visit of Peles Castle, Romanian most beautiful castle, former Romanian Royal Family summer residence. Today a very rich museum, architectural masterpiece built in German style, between 1875 and 1914.
Check in at the hotel.
Dinner.
Accommodation in Sinaia.
Day 3 Sinaia - Bran - Brasov - Sighisoara   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure to Bran.
Visit the Bran Castle, listed in Top 10 Most Famous Castles on Earth, connected to Dracula legend, one of Romania’s most prestigious touristical icon.
Built at the end of XIV-th century, Bran Castle had many owners, including Queen Maria. Today, the owner is Arquiduc Dominic of Habsburg. Among the most famous guest of the castle, it was Vlad Tepes, in 1462, in his way to Visegrad (the place where he was incarcerated for 12 years).
Departure to Brasov.
Brasov walking city tour: City Hall Square, City Hall, Saint Nicholas Church, Franciscan Monastery, Brasov Fortress and of course, The Cord Street (the narrowest stree on Earth!), The Black Church, the icon monument of Brasov. This is the largest catholical church in Romania and the largest one between Vienna and Istanbul, gothic style architecture. Inside, one of the largest orgue in Romania and also a beautiful collection of oriental carpets.
Departure for Sighisoara.
Check in at the hotel.
Dinner.
Accommodation in Sighisoara.
Day 4 Sighisoara   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Visit of Shighisoara Medieval Citadel, the only citadel in Europe entirely and continuously inhabited. Medieval city tour: Clock Tower (the best preserved monument, hosting today City Museum), Vlad Dracul House (here was born in 1431, Vlad Tepes, the legendary prince assimilated often with Dracula Prince), Stag House, Venetian House, School Street, Stair’s House, Catholic Cathedral (or „Church on the Hill”, situated on the top of the hill, the third largest Catholic Cathedral in Romania after The Black Church in Brasov and Saint Michael’s Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca).
Afternoon at leisure in Sighisoara:
Optional 1         horse riding at Sighisoara, Venchi, Seleus, Prod, Hetiur, Nades, Jacu Romanesc, Boiu, Sighisoara, on a 44 km itinerary
Optional 2         visit of tiny Viscri village and its Fortified Church, Unesco Patrimony (in this village, Prince Charles of Walles, owns a property, an old house, today a cosy pension). Visit also Saschiz Fortified Church, Unesco Patrimony.
Dinner with folchlorical show “Junii Sibiului”.
Accommodation in Sighisoara.
Day 5 Sighisoara - Biertan – Medias-Sibiu   ->   breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Departure to Biertan, maybe the most famous Transylvanian Saxon village.It was the Religious Capital of Transylvanian Saxons, as Fortified Church.
Visit of Biertan Fortified Church, the most prestigious on UNESCO Patrimony List, among the seven Fortified Transylvanian Saxon Churches. For almost 300 years, between 1572 and 186t, Biertan was the Headquarter of Saxonian Transylvanian Archibishop, an architectural jewel.
Departure to Medias, one of the seven „Sieben Burgen”: Medias/Mediasch, Brasov/Kronstadt, Sibiu/Hermannstadt, Cluj-Napoca/Klausenburg, Bistrita/Bistritz, Orastie/Grossau, Sighisoara/Schassburg (plus Reghin/Sachsisch Regen and Sebes/Mullbach)
Medias short walking tour: Cathedral, Stephan Ludwig Roth College, Covered Stairs, Castle Square, Maria’s Tower.
Departure to Sibiu.
Visit of “Astra” Museum, one of the richest Ethnographical Museums in the world.
walking tour visit of Sibiu, European Cultural Capital in 2007: Grande Square, Little Square, Huet Square, Evangelical Church, Catholic Cathedral, The Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary, Orthodox Cathedral, Bridge of Lies, Craftsmen’s Square, Goldsmith Square, City Hall, City Hall Tower, Bruckenthal Museum.
Dinner in a traditional Romanian restaurant in Sibiu.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
Day 6 Sibiu - Alba Iulia – Jidvei-Sibiu   ->   breakfast, dinner
Lunch.
Departure to Alba Iulia, considered to be “Romania’s Union Capital”.
Alba Iulia city tour. We start with “Reunification Cathedral”, also called “Coronation Cathedral”,  was built between 1921 and 1922 . This is the Cathedral where on October 15-th 1922, was coronated Ferdinand and Maria, as King and Queen of Reunificated Romania, called “Great Romania”
Visit then Catholic Cathedral of Alba Iulia and we admire Princiary Palace and Equestrian Statue of Mihai Viteazul/Michael the Brave. Michael the Brave was the first Prince in Romanian history, to achieve Unification of the three historical Romanian Provinces: Transilvania, Moldavia, Tara Romaneasca (Wallachia), on November 01-st 1599.
Nearby are the two buildings of Union Museum and many sculptures/bust of greatest Romanian figures to participate at Romanian Unification at 01-st December 1918.
We will visit then „Alba Carolina” Vauban style medieval citadel, masterpiece of Vauban style.
We will complete the tour of the Three Gates and, if we will have chance, maybe we’ll attend Guard Chance.
At the end of the tour, we will visit the cell where were emprisoned the heroes Horia, Closca and Crisan, the leaders of Horea, Closca and Crisan Revolte, in 1784.
Departure for Jidvei or Cetatea de Balta, famous Romanian wyneyard in Tarnava region.
We attend a wine tasting ceremony.
Back to Sibiu.
Dinner.
Accommodation in Sibiu.
Day 7 Sibiu - via Transfagarasan-Bucharest   ->   breakfast, for period B
Breakfast.
Departure to Curtea de Arges, via Transfagarasan, one of the two roads in Romania, crossing the Sourhern Carpathians (“The Alps of Transylvania) and one of the most spectacular road in Europe
Having a lenght of 91 kms, the road reach its highest point of 2042 m altitude (in the tunnel close to Balea Lake). After the tunnel, we will stop in a parking for pictures.
Before arriving in Curtea de Arges, we will pass nearby Poienari Ciradel, built by Vlad Tepes, between 1456 and 1462, on a top of a mountain.
We arrive finally in Curtea de Arges, the first Capital of Tara Romaneasca (Wallachia), until 1396, when the Wallachian Capital moved to Targoviste.
Visit of the Curtea de Arges Monastery, also called „Manole Master Monastery”, built between 1512 and 1517. This year we celebrate 500 since the works of construction of this jewel started.
Legend says that Master Manole had to sacrifice his wife Ana, to complete the construction, building her in the walls of the monastery.
Curtea de Arges Monastery is called „Santa Sofia” of Romania, here we have the graves of the kings of Romania: King Carol I and Queen Elisabeta, King Ferdinand and Queen Mary, King Carol the II-nd.
Continue to Bucharest.
Arrival in Bucharest.
Accomodation in Bucharest.
Day 7 Sibiu - via Olt Valley - Bucharest   ->   breakfast, for period A
Breakfast.
Departure to Cozia Monastery, situated on the shores of Olt Valley.
Cozia Monastery was buit by the great Mircea cel Batran (“Mircea the Old”), Prince of Wallachia between 1386 and 1395 and between 1397 and 1418. Mircea cel Batran was the grand father of Vlad Tepes. The Monastery, built in a classical wallachian style, one of the most important Romanian Monasteries
Continue to Bucharest.
Arrival in Bucharest.
Accomodation in Bucharest.
Day 8 Bucharest   ->   breakfast
Breakfast.
Transfer to Bucharest International Airport.
Flight back home.
period A          march, april, may, june,September, October
period B          july, august


Tarif
 
1105 euro/person in double room, for a group of 6-10 tourists      
Single room supplement   -   232 euro
Period B supplement   -   64 euro
 
 
Tariff includes:
  • Accommodation with breakfast included for 7 nights in standard double or single rooms;
  • Transportation in modern minivan/coach, according to the size of the group;
  • English speaking guide;
  • 5 dinners specified in the programme, including 2 special dinners: 1 dinner with show “Junii Sibiului “ Sighisoara and 1 traditional dinner at “Crama Ileana” Sibiu;
  • All the visits according to the programme;
  • All activities according with the programme;
  • Entrance fees for all the sights in the programme: Palace of Parliament,     Peles Castle, Cantacuzino Castle, Bran Castle, Black Church, Biertan Fortified Church, „Astra” Museum, „Alba Carolina” Medieval Citadel, Cozia Monastery, Curtea de Arges Monastery;
  • All government and local taxes;
  • Full assistance from the moment of your arrival till your departure
 
Tariff does not includes:
  • International air transportation to and from Romania;
  • Personal expenses such as travel insurance, laundry, beverages, telephone, fax, internet etc;
  • Camera and video camera fees in tourist sites;
  • Lunches;
  • Tips;
  • Drinks, except dinner at Binder Bubi Sighisoara where you have included, during the dinner show: 50 ml tzuika/Romanian brandy, ½ l of wine, ½ l of water;
  • Any optional activities, excursion etc;  
  • Local and governmental taxes;
  • Any element not included in chapter “Tariff includes” .
  
Remarks:    
  1. According with weather conditions, programme can be adapted.
  2. We will adjust the programme accordingly with your flights schedule.

luni, 24 decembrie 2012

Dragomirna Monastery


DRAGOMIRNA Monastery

Adress:   Dragomirna commune, Suceava County.
Dedication day:   The Descent of the Holy Spirit, the eighth Sunday after Easter.

The monastery of Dragomirna was built in a marvelous area, close to the forest, beyond the village Mitocul Dragomirnei, 12 kilometers from the Suceava town. Metropolitan Bishop Anastasie Crimca established the foundation, from the kinship of Stroici.
Another little church has been built in 1602, previous to the building of the great monastery. This little church can be seen today in the graveyard of the Dragomirna monastery.
It is the first church built by Metropolitan Bishop Anastasie Crimca together with his kinship Lupu and Simion Stroici. The plaque fixed over the entrance door reveals that it was dedicated to the saints Enoh, Saint Ilie and Saint John the Evangelist.
Shortly after he was crowned at Moldavia’s Metropolitan Bishopric and inspired by the idea of building a new church, impressive both as regards size and artistic value, Anastasie Crimca started to build the great monastery at Dragomirna. It was finished in 1609, and the monastery received the name “The Holy Spirit’s Descending”.

The Moldavian architecture of that time registered a leap in its evolution through this building with innovative proportions and elements. Conceived to be tall and narrow, with the polygonal apse from West, the church impresses by its monumental allure. It is a very beautiful assembles, where the frames of the windows with gothic elements match harmoniously with rich and various decoration of the tower coming from Romanian popular traditions. Into the monastery, the gradual heightening of the rooms, starting from the porch and moving to the altar and the rich network of nerves aligned almost everywhere, colored in red, blue, gold yellow, and loaded with drawings inspired by the old church manuscripts. And to make it perfect, various sculptures appear from place to place.
The walls and vaults of the nave and of the altar were wrapped with paintings in fresco in order to add a great artistic value. Undoubtedly, it was the traditional Moldavian sculpture school that formed the three painters from Dragomirna. Popa Craciun, Popa Ignat and Gligorie delicately added to the making of the frescos decorative elements borrowed from the miniatures of the Moldavian manuscripts. The paintings unfold according to the cannon of the Orthodox Church. “Jesus in the Gethsemane Garden”, “Jesus Capturing”, “The Crucifixion”, “The Descending from the Cross” are just a few of the scenes amazing with beauty. Beside their artistic value, the frescos from Dragomirna have a great documentary value. The folk elements as well as the age costumes are carefully represented and observed by the painters. It was at Dragomirna where Anastasie Crimca, Maria Mavrocordat, Bishop Daniil Vlahovici were buried. Other tombs were also discovered when digging. In the 17th century thick, massive defending walls surrounded the monastery giving it a fortress aspect. A passage with a gothic vault, underlined by nerves adorned with ornaments of floral inscriptions, crosses the tower bell. A chapel is at the first floor and the bell room at the last floor. The great trapezium where old monks used to eat together is still kept in the original form at the right of the tower. Monk rooms can be noticed on the western and eastern interior sides. During the first decades of the 17th century Dragomirna monastery proved to be a powerful culture centre. Miniatures and religious texts were created here.
There are a few things that round up the heritage of the monastery: a beautiful cover for saint vases, an evangelical book, an epitaph, a tetra-evangelical book written on parchment, decorated with many icons, a psalm book, two liturgical books as well as a crystal luster given by Empress Ecaterina II of Russia.