Dobrovat Monastery

It was built between 1503-1504. Its painting was done in 1529, during the reign of Petru Rares, both in interior and in exterior. The nave’s painting is considered the most beautiful in Moldavia. Only two little fragments are still preserved from the exterior painting. In 1651, during Vasile Lupu’s reign, the monastery was donated to Mount Athos until 1863, at Cuza’s secularization. Till 1902 the monastery functioned as a prison, then it was completely abandoned. After being transformed in a girl orphanage and an agricultural school, between 1930-1948 it returned to the monastic life, but it was closed in 1948 and it remained so until 1990 when it was reopened.