Grand Tour Romania

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Meeting with your guide and Hello Romania! Panoramic city tour of Bucharest where Ceausescu's architectural follies like the Palace of Parliament look face-to-face with Parisian-inspired palaces from the Revolution Square. In the evening In the evening visit of the historical center with the Stavropoleos Church, the old Hanul Manuc, the commercial street Lipscani and the famous CEC Palace. Welcome dinner in one of the most famous restaurants in Bucharest. Accommodation central hotel in Bucharest .

In the morning departure to visit Curtea de Arges, former capital of Walachia. Here we will visit the Monastery of Curtea de Arges, considered to be the most beautiful monastery from the Eastern Europe, built at the beginning of the 16th century by Prince Neagoe Basarab and the well-known Master Manole whose legend endures through the ages. Later we visit the Church of the Saint Nicholas, seat of the first Christian Orthodox Metropolis from Walachia, built in Byzantine style in the middle of 14th century by the Prince of Walachia Basarab the Ist. ( Alternatively you can visit the Horezu Monastery - UNESCO monument founded in 1690 by the Prince Constantin Brancoveanu, considered one of the best examples of “Brancovean” style or have a panoramic street on the most impressive road in the world – as Top Gear said - the Transfagarasan road – crossing the Carpathian Mountains at 2000m altitude. This road is open only 3 months a year. ) We continue to Cozia Monastery one of the most important examples of medieval art in Romania built in 1387 on the banks of the river Olt by the Prince of Walachia Mircea the Elder ( Mircea cel Batran ), who also rests for eternity in this Church. Afternoon arrival in Sibiu, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Romania. Typical Sibian dinner in the historic center / or dinner with folkloric show at Sibiel village located at 12 km from Sibiu. Accommodation in Sibiu central hotel.

In the morning visit of Sibiu, magical city steeped in an atmosphere of other times, which was in 2007 the European Capital of Culture. During the city tour we will pass through the old streets and admire the main monuments, such as the Bruckenthal Palace, built in Baroque style in the late 18th century, the infamous Lies Bridge, built over a road that connects the upper city with the lower city, the Saxon Cathedral erected at the beginning of the sixteenth century that retains besides a precious fresco of the Crucifixion from1445, the Catholic Cathedral built in German Baroque style at the beginning of the 18th century, the beautiful squares of the city and the Christian Orthodox Cathedral, headquarter of the Metropolis from Transylvania. We continue with Hunedoara, where we will visit one of the most impressive castles in Romania, in Gothic style, The Castle of Hunedoara built by Iancu of Hunedoara in the 19th century. In the courtyard of the castle there is a well 15 meters deep hiding his legend. Arrival in the evening in Alba Iulia, the historical and spiritual capital of Romania. ( Alternatively you can visit the six Dacian fortresses from the Orastie Mountains, built in the style of murus dacicus, in the period from the first century BC to the first century AD as protection from the conquering Romans . The six fortresses form the defensive system of Decebalus and were declared World Heritage by ' UNESCO .) Dinner and accommodation in Alba Iulia.

After breakfast visit of the city of Alba Iulia, with its beautiful citadel in Vauban style, the last that was constructed in Transylvania (eighteenth century). Here was the first Romania Unification from 1599 to 1601 by Prince Mihai Viteazu (Michael the Brave ) and also the second one on 1st December 1918 when he completed the Big Unification of Romania. In the evening we arrive in Maramures, the area in the north-west of Romania among the dark forests of the Carpathians. A region that preserves ancient traditions in a pastoral and tranquil atmosphere, where farmers still work with old instruments and are always ready for local festivals, an area famous for its splendid "spontaneous" architecture with wooden porches of the houses and churches with pointed roofs. A world outside of time. Visit of the Happy Cemetery in Sapanta, one of the most interesting cemeteries in Europe and the Sapanta Peri wooden church – the tallest wooden church in the world that was for 300 years the headquarter of the Episcopy in Maramures. Traditional homemade dinner and accommodation in a country residence in Maramures.

Today we continue our journey in this fairytale land through the valleys of Iza and Mara, true outdoor museums of rural art. Visit of the wooden churches of Barsana, Botiza, Rozavlea, Bogdan Voda and Ieud (UNESCO monuments) with their ancient frescoes and icons on wood and with their typical slender towers. From these, we visit Ieud is the oldest church in Maramures, from 1364 and Barsana with its complex, a true paradise. In the evening arrival in Bukovina, a region called the land of 2000 monasteries. The monasteries Voronet, Sucevita, Moldovita and Humor with their inside and outside frescoes, each with its own dominant colour, were painted between the 15th and 16th century and are considered masterpieces of Byzantine art, unique in Europe, that’s why they are part of UNESCO heritage. Dinner with homemade products and accommodation in a beautiful guesthouse in Bucovina.

Today we will visit the first two painted monasteries from Bukovina: Moldovita and Sucevita. Moldovita Monastery, built in 1532 by Petru Rares is painted both inside and outside with scenes as the "Victory of Constantinople," " The Prayer of the Holy Virgin "or" Tree of Jesse. " The dominant color of the Monastery of Moldovita is sunny yellow. This is the largest church built during the period of Moldavian style. Sucevita fortified Monastery was the last building in the style of Stefan cel Mare, exterior frescoes date from 1596 and the color green predominates over all. We will also assist at a demonstration of manual work of black ceramics from Marginea and a demonstration of traditional handmade eggs painting - traditions from Bukovina. In the afternoon we visit the last and the most beautiful monastery, founded in 1488 by King Stephen the Great and known as "The Sistine Chapel of the East" with the famous dominant color “blue of Voronet”. Dinner and accommodation in the same guesthouse in Bukovina.

In the morning departure to Bicaz with Bicaz Canyon, unique in Romania. Here we stop to buy souvenirs, see the Red Lake and have a walk in the Bicaz Canyon. We continue to Sighisoara, the "fortified city" among the very few in Europe, which retains its medieval centre on the top of the hill. Here was also born Vlad the Impaler, better known as Count Dracula. There are several defensive towers that surround the city, named after the trades of their builders: the Tailors’ Tower, the Shoemakers’ Tower, the Rope Makers’ Tower, the Clock Tower etc Dinner in the house where Count Vlad was born and accommodation in Sighisoara near the citadel.

In the morning departure to Brasov and guided city tour. Starting from the wonderful Council Square we will have a guided tour of the historic center, enhanced by civil and religious buildings, such as the Black Church, the largest Gothic church in Romania, the Council House built in the 15th century, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1689 in Baroque style, the St. Nicolas Church combining the Gothic style outside with the Byzantine style inside, the Museum of the First Romanian School from Scheii Brasovului hiding a great treasure of books and old manuscripts, the Ecaterina and Schei Gates, separating the Romanians from the Saxons. Afterwards we visit Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle) built between 1377 and 1382 on a large rock, the fortress had the role to defense and control the most important trade route that linked in the Middle Ages, Walachia and Transylvania. But the castle owes its fame mainly to the legend associated with the figure of Vlad Tepes. We continue to Sinaia, the favorite mountain resort of king Carol Ist, known as 'The pearl of the Carpathians'. Typical Romanian dinner and overnight in Sinaia.

In the morning we visit the Peles Royal Castle built in German Renaissance style in the exterior and Eclectic style in the interior, the most beautiful castle in Romania. Nearby there is the Sinaia Monastery, which gave the name of the town. We continue direction Tulcea, the last city before entering the Danube Delta. On the way we have a stop in Urlati to visit a wine cave and taste some good Romanian wine. Then arrival in Tulcea. Dinner with fish specialities and overnight in Tulcea overlooking the Danube. ( This day can’ t be Monday because the Peles castle is closed on Mondays )

In the morning departure for a cruise in the Danube Delta. Today you can admire the wildlife paradise of the Delta, the chains of channels, reed beds, lakes adorned with lilies and other aquatic plants nesting ducks and many species of wild birds. Over 300 species of birds, 1,200 types of plants, 60 varieties of fish in an area protected by UNESCO, extending over 5640 square kilometers. Formed 10,000 years ago, Delta is one of the most young parts of the Earth and consists of three branches: Chilia, Sulina and Saint. George, all directed towards the same Black Sea. After 5 hours cruise return to Tulcea and go direction Constanta, the Black Sea. Arrival in the evening, diner and overnight in Constanta.

After breakfast visit of the center of Constanta: Ovidiu Square, the heart of the city with the wonderful Roman building with mosaic, the palaces of the Museum of National History and Archeology and the statue of the Roman poet Ovidiu, the Orthodox Cathedral built at the end of 'Nineteenth century, near the ruins of Tomis's ancient city . Depart for Bucharest crossing the barn of Romania (the Baragan area) and arrive at the airport in the late afternoon. Good Bye Romania !