⛪ Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
Romania
About This Sacred Site
The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina in northeastern Romania are a group of Orthodox monasteries and churches whose exterior walls are entirely covered in elaborate frescoes dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. Commissioned by Moldavian prince Stephen the Great and his successors, the paintings depict biblical scenes, saints' lives, and the Last Judgment in brilliant colors that have survived five centuries of weather. Seven of the monasteries are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Key Facts
- •Seven monasteries are inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- •The exterior frescoes date from the 15th and 16th centuries and depict biblical narratives
- •Voroneț Monastery is called the 'Sistine Chapel of the East' for its blue-dominated frescoes
- •Commissioned primarily by Stephen the Great (r. 1457–1504) to celebrate military victories
- •The pigments were made from local minerals, which accounts for their remarkable durability
Location
Coordinates: 47.5176, 25.6982
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