Stavropoleos Monastery Church

The Stavropoleos Monastery Church was built in 1724 by Greek monk Ioanichie Stratonikeas over a preexisting Catholic chapel. The building appearance combines both Eastern and Western architectural styles that create an enchanting visual appeal. As a demonstration of Romanian traditional wood carvings, some of the church’s details are hand-crafted from wood.

Beyond its façade, Stavropoleos church also houses remarkable interior artwork. Its marble altars are mesmerizing pieces of sculptural art and its iconostasis is a stunning work of paintings by Dimitrie Belizarie. Other notable features include:

•A Baroque style fountain is located in the courtyard

•The wooden ceiling is decorated with geometrical shapes

•Three gothic-style arches are adorned with carved figures and floral patterns

•Orientation paintings feature biblical scenes

•Votive candles or lanterns light up around the church during festive occasions

•It’s no wonder why Stavropoleos Church is widely recognized as an important cultural site in Romania.

•If you're looking to check out some of Bucharest's cultural hotspots, a visit to the Stavropoleos Monastery Church is an absolute must. Here are just a few reasons why it's so remarkable:

•Built in 1724, the Church was designed in the Brancovenesc style of architecture, which combines traditional Eastern Orthodox and Ottoman Islamic elements into a single harmonious form.

•Inside the Church are striking frescoes and colorful wall paintings, made even more dramatic by an ornate gilded altar iconostasis that reflects light from the glass chandeliers above.

•On the south façade of Stavropoleos Monastery stands a small bell tower with a clock decorated by numerous small canopies and bas-reliefs of lions' masks.

•The courtyard features one of the most beautiful gardens in Bucharest and is particularly known for its romantic courtyard fountain adorned with geometrical motifs.

If you're planning to visit Stavropoleos Monastery Church, then you'll want to plan your timing. You should plan to visit between 10am and 6pm during the summer months, when the monastery is open for visitors. This is the best time of year to experience all the charm the monastery has to offer.

What to expect

When you visit Stavropoleos Monastery Church, you can expect a range of activities. During the day, visitors can take part in guided tours of the church, as well as a range of religious ceremonies such as vespers or liturgies. There are also some great shopping opportunities in the area and a selection of traditional food served up in local restaurants.

Summer festivals

One of Romania's best-kept secrets is that Stavropoleos Monastery Church hosts some vey special festivals during June and July. Every year, there is a large street festival that takes place outside of the church and features live music, traditional folk dancing and displays of Romanian culture. On certain nights during this period, there are even performances by local theater troupes held inside the church hall itself.