Pilgrimages in Romania

Flight to Cluj Napoca, ancient and historic capital of Transylvania. Check-in at a 3* hotel. Discover on foot the historic centre: Opera Square dominated by the Orthodox Cathedral and the National Theatre in eclectic style. Continue to the Union Square where you will find the largest monument in the city, Saint Michael Catholic Church. Return to the hotel. Dinner and a rest.

In the morning, visit to the Orthodox Cathedral of Northern Transylvania. Discussion about the Orthodox world and the relations between orthodox, catholic and Greek-catholic churches in Transylvania. Lunch in the town. Afternoon departure to Bistriţa, ancient German settlement. Check-in at a 3* hotel and discover on foot the centre of the town, where you can admire evangelic churches and ‘‘Sugalete’’ galleries, which hold still the perfume of other times. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Departure to Bucovina, country of painted monasteries. On the way, stop at the Tihuta Pass to visit ‘Dracula’s Castle’. Continue to Vatra Dornei, one of the most beautiful spa resorts in the North of Moldavia. Stop in the town centre to admire its architecture. Journey to Câmpulung Moldovenesc and visit to the Wood Museum, home to a numerous collection of ancient objects from Moldavian villages. Lunch. Afternoon visit to Moldoviţa and Voroneţ Monasteries, part of the UNESCO Heritage Site. The former one is celebrated in the world for its mural painting of the ‘Judgement Day’ and for the ‘Voroneţ blue’ and for that it is named the ‘Sistine Chapel of the Orient’. At the Moldoviţa Monastery you will find Tatiana, a nun who will present to you the history and iconography of the monastery. After the meeting, you can address a prayer to God. At the end of the day, return to Câmpulung Moldovenesc. Celebration of the mass at a local catholic church. Dinner and a rest at a 3* hotel.

Breakfast and departure to Piatra Neamţ, capital of a mountain region named by the Ottomans ‘The Athos of Moldavia’ because of its numerous monasteries and hermitages. You will visit only two monasteries, the most beautiful and biggest in the country: Agapia and Văratec. Around noon, stop to the Bicaz Gorges and the Red Lake, two remarkable natural sites. Lunch at a local restaurant and departure across the mountains passing Gheorgheni and Praid to arrive at Targu Mureş in the late afternoon.

Visit the town centre with its Orthodox and Roman-Catholic cathedral, The Alley of Roses dominated by the Culture Palace and the citadel. Celebration of the mass in a local church. Route to Sighişoara, city- museum part of the UNESCO Heritage Site. Dinner and overnight at a 3* hotel.

In the morning, visit on foot the high city of Sighişoara, and after route to Braşov, the largest city built by the Saxons in the 13th century. Stop at the Orthodox Church Saint Nicholas to visit those of whom we talk about the Transylvanian Orthodoxy and the relationship with other cultures. Lunch at Braşov in a typical restaurant. Afternoon route to Bucharest. Panoramic tour of the city and check-in at a hotel in the town centre. Celebration of the mass at the French Church ‘Sacré Cœur’ in Bucharest. Dinner and overnight at a 3*hotel.

Morning visit to the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchy where you will be greeted by a representative of the Patriarchy. Afterwards, continue to Piteşti and Curtea de Argeş to visit Argeş Monastery, built between 1512 and 1517, which became in 1914 the resting place of the Romanian royal family. Lunch at ‘Posada’ Restaurant. Route to Sibiu, second largest city built by the Saxons in Transylvania. On the way, stop on the Olt Valley to Cozia Monastery, a monastery with nuns. Visit and meeting with the nuns. Continue to Sibiu and foot walk to the town centre at the catholic church of Latin rite and the Evangelic Church. At the end of the day, arrival at Sibiel, typical village of the region where you will meet the village people and their daily activities. Visit the collection of Glass Painted Icons. Dinner and overnight at a family B&B.

Breakfast with the family and departure to Alba Iulia, spiritual capital of the country, city of the Great Unification (Unification of Transylvania and Romania 1918). Visit and meeting with the Orthodox bishop of Alba or with his son Vicaire. Discover the city and the cathedral of the Catholic bishop of Alba, one of the oldest of the country. Lunch in the town. Afternoon route to Cluj Napoca. Check-in at the hotel and continue with the discovery of Cluj. At the end of the afternoon, meet the Greek-catholic bishop of Cluj and the celebration of the mass. Dinner and overnight at a 3* hotel.

Free day to discover Cluj, its monuments and ambiance. In the evening, transfer to the airport and return flight to the United Kingdom.