Bucovina’s Painted Monasteries & Transylvania secrets 8D/7N

Arriving in Iasi, we will go on a short tour of the most impressive city of North-Eastern Romania and one of the largest cities in the country. Iasi was the capital of Romanian United Principalities between 1859-1862 and 1916-1918. Today it is considered Romania’s Cultural Capital, known as the city of the great ideas or the city of the seven hills like Rome or Lisbon.
Enjoy attractions like: The National Theater, built in just two years at the end of 19th century by the famous Austrian architects Felner and Helmer and the first theater of this kind in Romania, The Metropolitan Cathedral, Roznovanu Palace (now the City Hall), The Catholic Cathedral, The Three Hierarchs Monastery, one of the most important religious constructions in Romania because of its unique exterior architecture, a 17th century building.
In the Palace Square we can see The Palace of Culture, a neo-Gothic palace, built at the beginning of the 20th century, inspired by Hotel de Ville Paris.
Accommodation at the Hotel Majestic 4*, Iasi or similar. Traditional welcome dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel. Then we start our journey to Bucovina, the land of the most beautiful Romanian monasteries. Sucevita Monastery is part of the international cultural and spiritual patrimony, included in any trip to Romania and northern Moldavia.
The fortified church is like an open book for anyone who enters its doors, and only once you see it, you truly understand why it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list of cultural landmarks.
We continue our trip to visit another jewel, by far the most well-known orthodox settlement in Romania, the Voronet Monastery.
Voronet Monastery was founded by Stephen the Great. It is known as “Sistine Chapel of the East” and it attracts tens of thousands of tourists from around the world every year, having at least three unique elements that make it one of the highlights of your trip through Moldavia and Bucovina.
The most impressive aspect of the church’s artwork, both on the inside and on the outside, is the exceptional background color – the famous Voronet blue – the recipe of which has been kept a secret until now; the only thing we know for certain is that it is based on Azurite, a deep blue copper mineral.
A guided tour of the monastery will reveal other secrets of this amazing church.
In the evening we reach the pension Perla Bucovinei 4*, Voronet. Welcome dinner and overnight at the pension.

After breakfast we will see traditional handcrafts in Bucovina area. We start with an authentic artist, descendant of a family with tradition in the art of pottery. We will visit a ceramic center in Vama. There the artist will show us the art of ceramic manufacturing. And then we will go to the Ciocanesti painted houses and the Painted eggs Museum of Ciocanesti.
Back to the pension for the BUCOVINA TRADITIONAL GALA DINNER, with local natural food, campfire and Romanian folklore music. Overnight in 4* pension in Poiana Negrii –Bella Vista 4*

After breakfast, we will start our trip to Maramures, the magical land of wilderness and mythical beauty, inhabited by the most peaceful and friendly people.
On our way to Maramures we will stop in Bistrita to visit the Memorial House of George Cosbuc, one of the most important Romanian poets.
Organized in the house where the great poet of the Romanian nation was born, the “George Coşbuc” Memorial Museum is an important landmark.
It is located close to the covered Border Bridge, over Sălăuţa river. Dating back to the XVIII century (the building was built after 1840 by the poet’s father, priest Sebastian Cosbuc), the current museum is a group A historical monument and was restored in 1954.
The exhibition includes objects belonging to the poet George Coşbuc (1886 – 1918): cradle, school pulpit and chair, cape, travel kit, manuscripts, editions of his work.
Welcome dinner and overnight in Viseu at pension La Cassa 4*, Viseul de Sus.

In the morning, after breakfast, transfer by minibus to Viseul de Sus for a traditional train ride on Vaser Valley.
The Forestry Railroad in Viseu de Sus is located in the north of Romania, on the border with Ukraine. On a nearly 60-kilometer-long route, steam-driven locomotives run through the woods, making the Viseu de Sus Forestry Railroad known throughout the world as the last real-life, steam-powered railway track.
The line that was built after the 760mm Austro-Hungarian gauge leads to a charming wild valley along the Vaser River over bridges and tunnels. The railroad tracks an enormous forested area. There are no roads or villages, it is inhabited only by bears and wolves.
The use of wood resources on the Vaser Valley was initiated at the beginning of XVII century under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The German-speaking colonists first entered the virgin forests and, with the help of the raft, brought the cut wood to the mills of Viseu de Sus.
The next stop will be at Barsana Monastery, where you will feel the eternal, primordial connection with the earth. You will also see spectacular wood-carved gates and other examples of the fine craftsmanship that is the pride and joy of the people of Maramures.
We will be accommodated in Hotel Gradina Morii 3*, Sighetul Marmatiei, where we will have a local traditional dinner.

After a healthy breakfast we continue our trip.

We will visit the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta. The crosses and tombstones, each a skillful and colorful work of art, bear humorous poems about the deceased that will have you in stitches.
Here in Maramures you can still find traces of historical continuity, most notably in Sapanta, home of the one and only Merry Cemetery.
We will be accommodated in Univers T Hotel 3*, Cluj Napoca. We will have dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. And we will continue our trip to Sighisoara.
If you want to catch a glimpse of how life was like in the Middle Ages, you absolutely have to visit Sighisoara, Romania’s medieval town, and Count Dracula’s ( Vlad the Impaler) place of birth.
Built in 1280, the Sighisoara Citadel is not just one of the most visited tourist attractions in Romania, it is a living, breathing medieval fortress, since it has remained inhabited for over 700 years – which is quite rare.
In fact, after just a few steps on the cobblestone streets, past the gates and massive stone walls that reach as high as 14 meters, you will realize you are in one the most well-preserved medieval towns in Europe. The Romanian citadel was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list of historical and cultural landmarks. Accommodation at Korona 4* Hotel, where we will have dinner.

After breakfast we continue our trip back to Bucharest.
Depending on your flight schedule we might stop in Sinaia to visit the Royal family residence – Peles Castel.
Peles Royal Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe.
Built by King Carol I between1873 and 1883, the castle served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows and Cordoba leather-covered walls.
Peles Castle was the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current. The electricity was produced by the castle’s own plant.
After seeing these precious and unique jewels we stop in Azuga, where you are invited to taste sparkling wines and buy local wine directly from the producers – the Halewood Wine Cellars.