Churches of Moldavia
In the beginning of the 16th century, when the pressure of the Turkish armies was at it's highest point, the local artists of Moldavia found a simple and direct way of transmitting the essence of an age-old tradition: they covered the walls of five churches with what we can call a truly "illustrated Bible". In a time when Michelangelo said that "frescoes are the most difficult and daring paintings", the Moldavian painters created works comparable with the great European masterpieces, and even more than that, their frescoes hide secrets that have not been discovered not even in our days. What no one can find out, is how the colors managed to resist in time, without changing their shade.
The painted churches of Moldavia are part of the orthodox monasteries in Suceava county and Bucovina. Seven of these churches are part of the UNESCO World Heritage, since 1993. The most famous of all is Voronet, raised by Stefan the Great in only three months, and enlarged by his son, Petru Rares. Th
