Eastern Serbia: Medieval Monasteries and Resava Cave Tour

Informazioni generali

Destinazione
Belgrado, Serbia

Il programma nel dettaglio

Discover the medieval monasteries and natural wonders of Eastern Serbia on this full-day tour of the Pomoravlje province from Belgrade. Admire the 14th-century architecture and stunning frescoes of Ravanica monastery, visit the 15th-century Manasija monastery, then venture underground to explore the ancient Resava cave.



Your tour starts at your accommodation. Then head towards Pomoravlje District, known as the center of the last Serbian Medieval Kingdom, where monasteries steel keep the enormous cultural and historical legacy and wealth.



Your first stop is Ravanica monastery. It was the endowment of Prince Lazar built during the period between 1375 and 1377, with its frescoes painted in the years preceding the Battle of Kosovo. Due to its architectural and artistic features, the Ravanica church can be called the birthplace of the new artistic movement called the Morava school. The church is original in its architectural style, which is a blend of the Mount Athos tradition of the trefoil base and the cross-in-square five-domed model which became standard in the time of King Milutin.



After this extraordinary experience, you can visit the Resava cave ( not included , payable on spot ) , one of the oldest in Serbia, some 80 million years old, with some of the older formations dating back around 45 million years. The interior of the cave abounds in numerous and varied halls, channels, galleries, columns, stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and flowstone waterfalls.

Further on, you will enjoy a traditional Serbian lunch in a unique atmosphere, in a restaurant directly below the waterfall. (not included in the price).



Continue your ride to Manasija monastery. Manasija monastery is one of the last monuments to Serbian medieval culture, raised by Despot Stefan Lazarević, son of Prince Lazar. The construction of the church, an extravagant fortification, and large refectory took from 1406 to 1418. The impressive walls with 11 towers, surrounded by a trench, would at that time have been a modern system for the defense of the monastery. The most dominant and most imposing tower – the keep – is known as Despotova Kula (Despot’s Tower).



The Church of the Holy Trinity is considered a prime example of Morava architecture.



The frescoes in Manasija, together with those in Kalenić, are the most beautiful of the Morava properties and are considered among the best in old Serbian art in general. Besides the monumental depictions of warriors in the choir transept, exceptionally beautiful are the prophets pictured in the dome, as well as the idealized representation of Despot Stefan Lazarević presenting a model of the church to the Holy Trinity. Besides monastery churches and fortifications, Manasija partially preserves the remains of the old refectory and library. The library housed a scriptorium in which numerous books were copied for church use. The so-called ‘Resava orthography’ was much valued and was to influence later scribes for some time to come.

After an unforgettable day, you will head back to Belgrade.