In spite of its modern appearance, Suceava once served as an ancient capital of Moldavia. Of interest are the Citadel of the Throne (Cetatea de Scaun)—you can climb its ramparts for a breathtaking view—the Bucovina Village Museum that showcases houses of the 18th-20th centuries, and the Monastery of St. John the New, which still contains the bones of this saint who was martyred in the 14th century.
Suceava is the best base for seeing the ancient monasteries in the Bucovina region. (The region as a whole is also noted for its beautiful forests and mountains.) Several small villages have monasteries whose walls, inside and out, are covered with well-preserved frescoes. The most famous is at Voronet, but also worthwhile to see are the monasteries at Sucevita, Humor and Moldovita. These monasteries are among the most unusual attractions in Europe: We can't imagine going to Romania and not visiting them. Suceava is 215 mi/350 km north of Bucharest.
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