Bucovina’s UNESCO heritage
(Bucovina and Transylvania cultural tour)
Bucovina is among the most attractive and frequented touristic area on Romania’s
map. It is not by chance that this area, famous today in the whole world, was honoured in
1975 by the International Federation of Journalists and Writers of Tourism with the
international “Pomme d’Or” prize and that the ancient architectural monuments with inside
and outside frescoes, from this part of the world were appointed by UNESCO on the list of
the universal art monuments.
Itinerary: Targu Mures – Bicaz Gorges – Red Lake -Bucovina Painted Monasteries Excursion
(UNESCO World Heritage Sites): Piatra Neamt – Banffy Palace – Cluj Napoca
Duration: 8 Days
Day 1. Arrival in Targu Mures
Airport – hotel transfer. After arriving in Targu Mures airport, you will meet you
English speaking tour guide and be transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation at 4 star hotel in Targu Mures
Day 2: Targu Mures – Piatra-Neamt
After breakfast, morning pick up by your tour guide at your hotel in Targu Mures.
Drive north-est to Piatra Neamt, a beautiful mountain town. On our way to Piatra Neamt
we will admire the landscape and stop for few of the most spectacular places. One of them
is Bicazului Gorges (Cheile Bicazului), a protected area, one of the most magnificent road
passes in Romania. It is dug by the Bicaz river waters and serves as a passageway between
Transylvania and Moldavia. It is 8 km long. The Bicaz Gorges offer a unique view of
the Ceahlau Mountains.
Short stop for taking pictures.
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061
Another touristic objective on our way, is the Red Lake (Lacul Rosu), formed in 1837
following a major landslide. The Red Lake (Lacu Rosu) is a natural storage dam lake and is
situated at the foot of Hasmasu Mare Mountains, somewhere near the town Gheorgheni. It
is the largest natural mountain lake in Romania, its name coming from the reddish alluvia
(iron oxides and iron hydroxides) deposited in the lake by the Red Creek.
Arrival in Piatra Neamt. Evening at leisure.
Accommodation in Piatra Neamt
Day 3: Piatra Neamt – Agapia – Dragomirna – Gura Humorului
After breakfast you will meet your tour guide for visiting the area. Stopover for lunch
along the way.
Begin your day with a gondola ride, up to the Cozla Mountain (657 m altitude). From
there we will admire a beautiful view of Piatra Neamt and the Three Hills Clearing (Poiana
Trei Coline), Bistrita Valley, Batca’s Lady Lake (Lacul Batca Doamnei) and to the west you can
see Ceahlau Mountain.
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061
Then, on our way to Bucovina, we will visit Neamt Fortress (Cetatea Neamtului) – a
medieval stronghold located in Targu Neamt. Built in the 1400s by Prince Petru Musat,
Neamt reached its peak during the time of Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great) Moldova’s
greatest leader. Today, the fortress is home to a museum where visitors can learn about the
inhabitants’ life in the 15th Century.
Then we will visit Agapia Monastery, one of the largest nun monasteries in the
Orthodox world and to Dragomirna Monastery.
Agapia Monastery is located in a lovely setting at the foothills of the Carpathian
Mountains; this picturesque nuns’ monastery was built between 1642 and 1644. However,
its current neoclassical facade dates from the reconstruction period at the turn of the 19th
century. The church’s interior, featuring stunningly vivid portraits with eyes that seem to
follow the viewer, was painted between 1858 and 1861 by the famous Romanian artist,
Nicolae Grigorescu, when he was just 18 years old.
Dragomirna Monastery is located among the beautiful hills of Bucovina, at 12 km
west from the old residence of Steven the Great and the Bishops of Moldavia. It stands tall
defying time, inside the fortress walls. Besides the beauty of the landscape and the unusual
location, what leaves an unforgettable impression is the peculiar elegancy of the
monument, withholding geometrical rigors of great taste, an unique stature through its
proportions and lengths, exceeding all of the other Moldavian medieval monuments.
After arriving in Gura Humorului, check into the hotel. Evening at leisure.
Accommodation in Gura Humorului
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061
Day 4: Gura Humorului – Putna – Marginea – Gura Humorului
After breakfast, together with your guide you will drive north and visit the imposing
Putna Monastery which is situated about 30 km northwest from the town of Radauti, near
the Putna River. High, forested hills and wild landscape surround the monastery and the
village with the same name.
The area of Gura Humorului, is also notorious for the black clay pottery crafted here,
tradition that was passed from generation to generation for centuries. One of the most
important pottery centres is at Marginea, our next stop. In the village of Marginea visit the
black pottery workshop – they use a technique called “oxygen reduction”, technique used
only in Mexico!
The beginning of the pottery in the area of Marginea was dated by the historians
around 1500.The pottery was born because the people needed to stock their extra food.
Ceramics had contributed at the development of the primitive society giving the possibility
to stock the food or other things (could you imagine your house without these?).
You will be able to clay your own pot and to keep it as a souvenir.
After coming back in Gura Humorului, evening at leisure.
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061
Day 5: Gura Gumorului – Moldovita – Sucevita – Voronet – Gura Humorului
Among the most picturesque treasures of Romania and one of the world’s greatest
art treasures are the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. Their painted exterior walls are
decorated with elaborate 15th and 16th century frescoes featuring portraits of saints and
prophets, scenes from the life of Jesus, images of angels and demons.
Whether you are interested in religion, history, art or architecture, you will be
intrigued by the construction and decor — exterior and interior — of these edifices. Seven
of the churches were placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1993. The eighth, Sucevita,
is awaiting sanction to be added on the list.
We will visit Moldovita, Sucevita and Voronet Monasteries . Nun Tatiana will host us for
lunch.
We begin our day with Voronet, the most beautiful and most famous of them all,
known as the Sistine Chapel of the East and featuring one the best preserved Last Judgment
fresco in the world. The blue paint that has miraculously never faded is known throughout
the world as ‘Voronet blue’.
Next is Moldovita Monastery where the UNESCO Golden Apple Award given to the
painted churches in 1975, is kept. Later continue to the nearby Sucevita Monastery, which
is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. Visit the small
museum of this monastery displaying some of the most valuable old Bibles in the country.
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061
Return to the hotel.
For our last night in Bucovina, we propose a traditional dinner, a perfect ending to
your tour in the area.
Day 6: Gura Humorului – Tihuta Pass – Bistrita – Banffy Palace – Cluj Napoca
Breakfast at hotel and check out.
Driving to Cluj Napoca, we are passing through the mystic Tihuţa Pass, which is often
covered by mist, thus emphasizing the legendary atmosphere of the surroundings.
Later we reach Bistrita, Bram Stocker’s chosen place for Dracula’s home. This town
connects Transylvania region to the Bucovina and it is one of the oldest in the region.
Archaeological findings indicate that the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic age,
long before Bram Stocker indicated it as the setting of his fictional Dracula’s castle.
Before arriving in Cluj Napoca, we will visit Banffy Palace in Bontida, a village nearby
Cluj-Napoca. Bánffy Castle is an architectonic Baroque and it is considered the most
representative example of baroque style in Transylvania. The castle was desecrated during
World War II by German troops and neglected by the communist regime in Romania; it is
currently being restored by the Transylvania Trust, with funds from the European Union and
Romanian Ministry of Cult.
Accommodation in Cluj Napoca.
Free time for relaxation or walking in the picturesque streets of city centre.
Entertainment and art lovers can spend an enjoyable evening at the Opera or attend a
classical music concert offered by the Cluj Philharmonic.
Day 7: Cluj Napoca – Turda Salt Mine – Alba Iulia – Targu Mures
A la carte breakfast at hotel. Morning visit of Cluj Napoca city centre. The tour offers
an understanding of the social, ethnic, political, religious, and culture. Saint Michael Church
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061
- one of the most beautiful gothic monuments from Transylvania, the Orthodox Cathedral,
Matei Corvin House, Babes-Bolyai University, the National Theatre and Romanian
Opera, Tailors’ Bastion, Fortress Hill are just a few city landmarks that we will see.
Then we drive to Alba Iulia with one stop in Turda for seeing the Salt Mine. Since
1992, Salina Turda has been a halo-therapy centre and a popular tourist attraction.
Moreover, it is an open history museum for anyone willing to connect the salt extraction
with the events that occurred during Roman occupation in Dacia. The Turda Salt Mine is
today genuine history museum of Salt exploitation, as mining ceased there in 1931.
Later we will arrive in Alba Iulia, one of the oldest settlements in Romania. Known in
ancient times as Apulum, Alba Iulia served as the largest military and economic centre
during the Roman occupation. Temples, mosaics and statues, amphitheatres, the governor’s
palace “Daciarum Trium” – all rendered the original Dacian Apulul as the miniature copy of
Mother Rome.
Accommodation in Targu Mures. Evening at leisure
Day 8: Hotel – Airport Transfer and return flight.
Price 229 euro/pers
Included services:
Accommodation :171 eur/person
- 2 nights accommodation in Targu Mures, in 4* hotel, HB,
- 1 night accommodation in Piatra Neamt, in 4* hotel, HB
- 3 nights accommodation in Gura Humorului, in 4* hotel, HB
- 1 night accommodation in Cluj-Napoca, in 4* hotel, HB
Fully equipped bus for transfers and transport, for the entire period: 48 euro/person
- Airport-hotel-airport transfers
Authorized guide: 10 euro/person
Parking fees
Not included:
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Flight tickets
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Traditional dinner in Bucovina with folklore program
Entrance fees.
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Other meals than stated, from 10 euro/person
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Alcoholic beverages

health insurance
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061

personal costs

Photo/video fees at sites and museums.
*** The days lunch is not mentioned we will make a stopover for lunch along the way.
ALIS HOLIDAYS
Cluj Napoca, P-ta Mihai Viteazul nr.14/20
office@alisholidays.ro, www.alisholidays.ro
Phone/fax: 0264 432033
0753080061