What a brilliant masterpiece of art you will witness upon seeing the Painted monasteries found in South Bukovina in Northern Romania. Mostly farms and little villages are what surrounds this beautiful site that mostly are UNESCO nominated. Though public transport is lacking in service within the area, the best way you may do is to ride a bike all around or to rent a car that will make you able to roam around completely in just a day or two. There will be no problem when it comes to accommodations because there are lots of houses for rent and decent hotels specially built for the tourists and travelers even site accommodations are available.
Such a colorful view will tickle your eyes when you got to see these painted monasteries, the Romania’s most picturesque treasure. The walls’ exteriors are painted and decorated with the emphasis of frescoes of 5th and 16th century that showcases Saints and Prophets’ portrays. Some designs that you may found are the portrayal of the Life of Jesus, faces of angels and demons, and other biblical characters, a complete mural cycles of religious activities that surely blends with the landscapes.
This will satisfy your interest in religion, architecture, history and art in one stop with an intriguing décor of the edifices’ interior and exterior designs. Noticing the monk or a nun who beats the long beam calling out for prayer is just a tradition that started by the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Moldova when Turks declared of forbidding of ringing bells. Instead, it was changed to toaca, a metal bar or a wooden material striking to produce a noise that will signify the sign to start a prayer.
To name some of the painted monasteries, first would be the Arbore Monastery, the only one to have no belfry tower for the reason that it was not built by a prince. The Humor Monastery, which showcases portray the return of the prodigal son, with a humorous illustration of a devil that is a woman. The Moldovita Monastery, showcases the Tree of Jesse that represents the genealogy of Christ. The Patrauti church that was dedicated most to the holy cross is the ever surviving religious site of all that was founded by Stephen the great.
These are just some of the most amazing piece of art done in the ancient times, a very impressing works that even the modern world is able to enjoy and witness. This is just an evidence of how rich the culture and heritage of people in the past despite the wars and calamities, these structures signifies the strong foundation off beliefs and customs. An artistic way to know who we really are and how great our ancestors had been. The painted monasteries are mostly built by princes who had a great and important role in the past, these monasteries serve as our connection to them, for the privilege of feeling their passion and art.