Moldavia

Moldavia

In northwest Romania lies the province of Moldavia, also called Moldova (not to be confused with the Republic of Moldova). It is a region of wineries, mineral spring spas, medieval towns, and the literery center of Romania, Iasi. It is also the home of Bucovina's Painted Monasteries.
Its northern region, Bucovina, is renowned for its 15th-century painted monasteries, acclaimed as masterpieces of art and architecture. Their exteriors are covered with Byzantine-influenced frescoes of biblical scenes, painted in vibrant blues, reds and green colors. The main ones to visit are Voronet, Humor, Moldovita, Sucevita and Arbore. The city of Suceava is the base point for your tour of Bucovina.

South of Bucovina you'll find the spas of Vatra Dornei, Slanic Moldova and Solca at the foot of the north-eastern Carpathian mountains. There are also the medieval towns of Piatra Neamt and Targu Neamt, and the mountains of Rarau, Ceahlau, Vrancea and the winter resort of Durau. These areas include botanical and nature reserves, neolithic abodes, folk architecture, wooden churches and the pottery centers at Falticeni and Marginea.

Moldavia is home to the university city and literary center of Iasi, situated near Romania's eastern border with the Republic of Moldova. This was home to the country's most famous literary figures - Mihail Kogalniceanu, Ion Creanga, Mihail Sadoveanu and Otilia Cazimir. Iasi has museums of art, history, ethnography, sound technology and natural history; it also has a magnificent opera house and a lovely botanical garden.

Finally, Moldavia is a winemaking region with vineyards at Cotnari, Paneiu and Odobesti.

(Voronet Monastery)

(Iasi)

(vinyard)