BUCOVINA

BUCOVINA is a historical region whose territory lies today over the area nearby Suceava, Campulung Moldovenesc and Radauti in Romania and Cernauti in Ucraina, together with the north of Moldova was also called string of monasteries founded by great Moldovian voivodes and boyers - Stephen the Great (Stefan cel Mare), Alexander the Good (Alexandru cel Bun), Petru Rares, Stephen (Stefan) Tomsa, Alexander (Alexandru) Lapusneanu, the Musatin or the Movilesti family a.o., each with its specific colour: Voronet (blue) [spelled Voronetz], Humor (red), Sucevita (green) [Sucevitza], Moldovita (yellow) [Moldovitza] and Arbore (combination of colours). All these monasteries, due to their outter paintings (fresco) were taken into evidence by UNESCO and have received in 1976 the "Pome d’or" prize of FIJET International Organization for their cultural - touristic value.

Thought in other style, but not less valuable, there are also the Dragomirna (work of art of the fast and exotism of the Moldavian architecture, whose colour and light are as those at Saint Sophia in Bizant) and Putna (with one of the richest artistic treasures in Romania and in the world in gothic style, taken in UNESCO evidence) monasteries, or Bogdana Church in Radauti (the oldest in Moldova).

In this area, there are Dorohoi and Botosani towns, known by the memorial houses and museums of the great musician George Enescu and national poet Mihai Eminescu (born in Ipotesti, near Botosani).
The administrative centre of the area, Suceava, could be the starting point for visiting various touristic objectives as the memorial house at Stupca of the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu, Vatra Dornei resort, the Rarau Mountains - with the unique reservation of limestones The Lady’s Stones (Pietrele Doamnei) and the secular forest at Slatioara.

Southward of the "Upper Country", near Targu Neamt town, there are some important touristic objectives: The "Neamtului" fortress, Ion Creanga national writer’s house in Humulesti and Neamt, Sihastria, Secu, Varatec and Agapia monasteries (with original mural paintings made by the famous painter Nicolae Grigorescu). With their painted exterior walls, decorated with 15th- and 16th-century frescoes that are considered masterpieces of Byzantine art, these monasteries churches are unique in Europe. Far from being merely wall decorations, the paintings represent complete cycles of religious murals on all facades. Their outstanding composition, elegant outline and harmonious colours blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape.

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