Amazing Romania – Bucovina Painted Monasteries and 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.

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 wood cut 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 visit the Etnographic and Village Museum of Maramures where you can see and try on the traditional clothes of the Maramures area.
Then we will visit the Merry Cemetery of Sapanta, which is one of a kind in the world. Its funny tomb stones represent the funny side of Romanians and especially the people in the Maramureș region, in Northern Romania. For many years it has been one of the most popular tourist attractions in Romania and for a good reason: it literally laughs in the face of death. It’s not often that you leave a cemetery laughing.
We will be accommodated at Hotel Bistrita 3*,Bistrita. And we will have a delicious local dinner.

After breakfast we start an amazing trip to the beautiful area of Harghita and Covasna county. Next stop – Bicaz Gorges. The Bicaz Gorge is a gorge located in the north-east part of the country. The road that slices through the gorges is among Romania’s most spectacular road. This stunning gorge has a part that is so narrow that it is known as „The Neck Of Hell.”
The drive is definitely worth it. There are many excellent photo opportunities there. Don’t forget your camera! The gorge is part of the Cheile Bicazului-Hasmas National Park.
Along the way, one may find traditional bazaars where you can buy products made by the Romanian and Hungarian craftsmen from this area.
After we cross the Bicaz Gorges we will reach another natural wonder. Red Lake, also known as “the Killer Lake”, is a natural barrier lake at the foot of the Hasmasu Mare Mountains in the Eastern Carpathians Range in Harghita County, Romania. It is about 93 m deep and covers about 12 hectares, and it is the largest natural mountain lake in Romania.
The forest caught at the bottom of the lake remained standing and became petrified over time, so that today the black spruce trunks jutting out of the water look very interesting.
We will be accommodated at Hotel Oscar 3*,Alexandru cel Bun-Piatra Neamt . There we will have dinner.

We will visit the childhood house of one of the most famous Romanian authors, Ion Creanga, situated in a natural park.
We have the opportunity to see a traditional household.
After that we continue our trip to Piatra Neamt; on our way we will visit Cetatea Neamtului and we will have panoramic tour of the beautiful Piatra Neamt city.
Transfer to the airport in Iasi.