SUCZEWICA

Sucevica (Sucevita Monastery) it's the greatest, the most beautiful and best preserved of the monasteries in Bukovina. Orthodox church within the monastery walls (1586) it is almost entirely covered with frescoes, yes inside, and outside. The Ladder of the Righteous catches the eye right from the entrance, taking up most of the outer north wall, and representing 30 degrees from Hell to Paradise. The outer south wall is decorated with a tree symbolizing the continuity of the Old and New Testaments. It grows out of the lying figure of Jesse, on its sides stand in a row of ancient philosophers. On the left side of the fresco, the Virgin Mary is depicted as a Byzantine princess, with a red veil held by angels. In addition to the church in the monastery, you can also visit a small museum.

Night and gastronomy

It is worth staying here for the night and hike a little through the surrounding forested hills, from which there is a beautiful panorama of Bukovina. You can put up your tent for free on the field behind the stream near the monastery. Restauracja Hanul Sucevita, ok. 1 km towards Radowiec, offers rooms in the main storey building in the price 11 $ per person and nice mobile homes too

hotel – 5 $ from person. The restaurant itself, open all year round, serves simple, but tasty meals.

Journey

It is not so difficult to get to any of the painted monasteries, as for Suczewica (of course, if you do not have your own transport). There are four buses a day from Radowiec (17 km), one in the morning and three in the afternoon. Two buses a day go to Mokkmta (36 km), one early in the morning, and the second around three in the afternoon. The winding and extremely picturesque road connecting the two monasteries leads through the forest through a high mountain pass (1100 m n.p.m.), next to mountain villages. You can pitch a tent nearby, but a car is rather necessary to cover the whole distance (the hike may turn out to be very strenuous). To Putny (20 km to the north) while the walk takes about five hours.