Mănăstirea Antim

The Antim Monastery in central Bucharest was built between 1713 and 1715 at the command of Metropolitan Antim Ivireanul, a scholar of Georgian origin who was a printer and artist and left a deep mark on Romanian culture. The complex stands out for its triconch church, whose carved stone portal was designed after the metropolitan's own drawings, for the bell tower at the entrance, and for a quiet courtyard set apart from the bustle of the city. Over the centuries the church suffered from earthquakes and from communist urban planning, when it was moved on rails to save it from demolition.

Today it houses a monastic community and a museum displaying heritage objects, old prints, and liturgical treasures. Visitors find a corner of peace with restored paintings, a gilded iconostasis, and well-kept gardens. A practical note is to respect the services and the silence of the place while walking through the courtyard.