Small Group & Custom Private Tours .
Sample Itinerary: Select yor own dates. This itinerary can be modified.
TRANSYLVANIA AND THE MONASTERIES OF BUCOVINA - 9 days / 8 nights
Features Bucharest, the Carpathian Mountains, the fabulous Royal Castle in Sinaia, apart from medieval Transylvania and the famous painted monasteries.
Day 1 BUCHAREST Arrival at Bucharest airport. Transfer to your hotel. Guided walking tour of Bucharest city center and a visit to the outdoor Village Museum. (time permitting).
Day 2 BUCHAREST - CURTEA DE ARGES ? SIBIU (288 km) Departure to Curtea de Crossing the Carphatians to Sibiu, we'll stop enroute in Curtea de Arges (former capital of Wallachia) and visit the Episcopal Church. Drive to R?mnicu Valcea for lunch and along the picturesque Olt Valley to Cozia Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in Romania built in 1386. Arrive in Sibiu, one of the oldest Saxon towns in Transylvania - formerly Hermannstadt - founded by the Saxon colonists and once the richest town of Transylvania.
Accommodation in Sibiu.Day 3 SIBIU - SIGHISOARA
Morning guided walking tour of the medieval town--15-16th century town squares, the Evangelical Church, the Liars' Bridge, old city walls. Drive to Siebel village and visit Glass Icons Museum. Continue to Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler ("Dracula"). Sighisoara is one of the greatest medieval cities left in the world, with a walled citadel on the hilltop, secret gateways and passages, a 14th century Clock Tower and the birthplace of Prince Vlad Tepes (Dracula). It is the best preserved and continuously inhabited medieval city of Europe. On arrival free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon walking exploration of the sights. Overnight inside the old fortress walls at Sighisoara*** hotel or Casa Wagner or House with Antler.Day 4 SIGHISOARA-MARAMURES
Drive north to the region of Maramures, the land of wooden churches and carved wooden gates, unique folk costumes and traditions, where ancient Romania coexists with modern times. On the way visit The Palace of Culture and the stunning stained glass windows in Targu Mures. Continue north to Sighetul Marmatiei. and then drive NW to visit Sapanta to visit the Merry Cemetery. Overnight Teleptean House in Vadu Izei village, dinner includedDay 5 MARAMURES-GURA HUMORULUI (Bucovina) (402 km)
Drive through the scenic Prislop Pass to Bucovina region renowned for the wondrously detailed exterior frescoes on the walls of its monasteries/ churches. On the way admire the superb wooden architecture of Barsana monastery and the 18th century Rozavlea wooden church, with its beautifully preserved interior paintings. Overnight in Gura Humorului, at the Best Western Hotel,*** the best base to see the monasteries.Day 6 TOUR OF THE PAINTED MONASTERIES (170 km)
Visit the famous painted monasteries of northern Moldova - part of the UNESCO World cultural heritage- in their construction and painting order, following the evolution of the architecture and painting: Humor, Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita. Humor Monastery painted by Toma of Suceava, 1530, and the Voronet Monastery, built in 1488, one of the most beautiful and dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of the East." Moldovita Monastery is where the UNESCO Golden Apple award givento the painted churches back in 1975, is kept. On the south facade of Moldovita is The Siege of Constantinople belonging to the 24 episodes of the Hymn to the Holy Virgin. Sucevta is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. Ladder of John of Sinai is considered one of the best of the frescoes of Sucevita, rarely present in medieval Romanian art. Visits to the black pottery workshop of Marginea and to an Easter-egg painter in Vama (if available). Overnight at Gura Humorului.Day 7 GURA HUMORULUI-PIATRA NEAMT ? BRASOV
Drive southwards to T?rgu Neamt crossing the mountains through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges- Bicaz Lake (largest lake in Romania and a breathtaking 25 miles drive)- the Red Lake. Lunch at Red Lake. Continue south through Miercurrea Ciuc and Sfantu Gheorghe to Brasov. Upon arrival, free time to stroll and relax on the pedestrian only plaza of old town. There are many great restaurants and beer gardens to choose from.Day 8 BRASOV - BRAN - SINAIA-BUCHAREST (210 km)
Guided walking tour in the historical center of Brasov (formerly Kronstadt) including the Black Church, the largest gothic structure between Vienna and Istanbul; admire it's great collection of oriental carpets. Then departure to Bran for visit to "Dracula's Castle". Drive across the mountains to Sinaia, a well-known ski resort nicknamed the "Pearl of the Carpathians," admiring the old Saxon fortified churches enroute. Lunch in Sinaia, then visit to the Sinaia Monastery, the oldest building in town (1695) and build in typical "brancovenesc" architectural style (reminiscent of Mogosoaia Palace). Afterwards visit the fabulous Peles Castle - former summer residence of the Royal family. Late afternoon drive south to Bucharest. Farewell dinner with traditional dishes in a typical restaurant.Day 9 BUCHAREST
Transfer to airport for flt home.includes: ? Accommodation 7 nights as per the programme; ? Meals as specified in the program; ? Private car with driver/guide, all entrance fees to museums, monasteries and sites included in the program.
(888) 367-6147 - Intl (415) 381-5861
P.O. Box 446 Mill Valley, CA 94941all text & photos © 1997-05, Barbara Sansone
