INTERTOURS > Established 1989 < / Licence Nr. 20 /

Monasteries in and (8 days, 7 halfboards – Bus)

Serbian monasteries offer divine inspiration, and give eternal trait to everyone ...

1. day /Tour 3/ Arrival in the morning. Transfer to hotel with 3 or 4*. Accomodation. Departure for sightseeing town: Kalemegdan fortress, Republic Square, National theatre, National museum, , Federal Assembly, St. Marco's ... Afternoon free. Dinner. Overnight.

2. day Breakfast. Visit Orthodox Cathedral, Patriarchate and St. Sava Temple (among the biggest orthodox temples on the world). Departure for (60 km from Belgrade). Visit old Patriarchate and Cathedral. After that going to Petrovaradin , old medieval fortress on Danube near . Visit fortress with great panoramic view on Novi Sad. Little break for lunch /Optional/. After break visiting monastery Novo Hopovo – XVI century. Back to Belgrade. In late afternoon hours visiting Belgrade from the rivers by boat - 2 hours. End of the day in one of the national restaurants in old quarter where dinner will be served. Overnight.

3. day Breakfast. Leaving Belgrade by bus and ride for (80 km from Belgrade). Visit temple of Karađorđević Dinasty. With its monumentality and internal composition of icons this temple is interesting for everyone. Little break in summer garden of "Oplenac" hotel. After Oplenac bus ride to Žiča. Visit Žiča monastery (XIII century). This monastery was founded by Stevan Firstcrowned and is a typical example of Raška school. Due to influence from Mt. Athos monasteries, Žiča monastery was outside painted in red, and that color remains untill present time. This monastery was the seat of the first Serbian archiepiscopy and cultural center and legislative body in Serbia in XIII century. Departure for Studenica. Little break for lunch in Mataruska spa /Optional/. Arrival Studenica (XII century). Visit this monastery one of the most important shrine of serbian people !!! It consists of 3 churches: church of Holy virgin, church of St. Nikola and King church. This monastery is foundation of of Stevan Nemanja, and King church was intended for his grave. Monumentality of the churches, richness in frescoes and escite vevverzone who comes here ! "Crusifiction of the Holy Virgin" is one among most beautifull frescoes in whole serbian medieval painting. This monastery is under UNESCO protection. Dinner. Overnight in Hotel "STUDENICA" near monastery – 3*.

4. day Breakfast. Bus ride to monastery Sopoćani – (XIII century). The monastery is foundation of King Uroš, and was built for his grave. Frescoes from this monastery are considered among most beautifull achievments in serbian medieval painting and among most beautifull among all Bizantyne painting at all !!! These paintings can be compared only with much later works of the artists from the epoche of . One of the most important fresco is "The death of Holy virgin" which spreads all over the west wall, and just after comes the scenes from the life of the Christ and several figure of the Saints. As a real treasure of old serbian art and culture this monastery is under UNESCO protection. Departure for . Visit monastery Visoki Dečani (XIV vek). This monastery is one of the biggest building in medieval Serbia. Founders are King Stefan Uroš and his son Dušan, later tzar. It is well known because of its authentic works on the portals – Dečani sculpture. Frescoes ilustrate life of the Christ , Holy virgin, St. Nikola, St. Georgie, and among others comes out portrets of Nemanjić dinasty and tzar Dušan. Richness of frescoes, manuscripts, books and other wealth are the reason why great number of visitors come to this monastery every year. Little break.

Departure for monastery Pećka Patrijaršija (XIII vek). This real pearl of serbian medieval consists of 4 churches built one by another so that today they are considered as one building. The oldest one is church of St. Apostles founded in XIII century by second serbian archiepiscop, Arsenije. He was the one who moved the seat of archiepiscopy from Žiča to Pećka Patrijaršija. At the begining of the XIV century from both sides of St. Apostles church, were built new ones: church of St. Demetrius and church of Holy Virgin. The most impressive frescoes are in St. Apostles church and beacuse of its colour, composition and inetrnal expression this frescoes are very close to the ones from Studenica and Sopoćani. The most important composition and frescoe is The Ascension which is situated at the dome. SEveral of these compositions are compared to the most outstanding works of that period in other European countries. Frescoes from St. Demetrius church are a little bit different but also very interested. The most famous is "The birth of the Holy Virgin". In St. Demetrius church is also a treasure with icons, manuscripts and goldsmiths, from the Nemanjić dinasty. It was in this monastery, under mullbery tree, where the decision was made for to go in migration because Turkish forces were entering and devastating Serbia. Leaving for Montenegro. Lunch break in Berane /Optional/. Arrival in Budva. Accomodation in 3 or 4 * hotel. Dinner. After dinner attendance to some of summer manifestation, if possible. Dinner. Overnight.

5. day Breakfast. Trip to , city under UNESCO protection. Sightseeing Kotor, old part of the city, navy museum, St. Tripun cathedral , St. Georgius church ... Backward ride to Budva with panoramic view of Miločer and Sveti Stefan. Afternoon free. Dinner. Overnight.

6. day Breakfast. Departure for Cetinje. Sightseeing Cetinje – old capital of Montenegro. Visit King Nikola's castle – unique architectural monument from his period and real treasure of paintings, furniture, peasant costumes and ereachness of his family. Nearby is situated (XV century), foundation of Ivan Crnojević. This monastery was cultural center of South Slaves. Oktoih, first book of southern Slavs was printed in this monastery in 1493. Departure for Ostrog. Lunch on the road /optional/. Visit Ostrog monastery (XVII century) – founded on a cliff by metropolitan Vasilije Ostroški later proclaimed as a Saint. Legend about this healer and Saint who perform miracles is that he is not dead - "he is walking" ... Backward ride for Belgrade. Accomodation in hotel on Zlatar mountain. Dinner and overnight.

7. day Breakfast. Leaving Zlatar and ride to Zlatibor. Little break on this famous winter resort. Depart for (etno village). Sighstseeing this village and etno motifs: etno suits and souvenirs, which represent wellknown culture of this region. Shopping available. Continue ride to Belgrade. In Lazarevac near Belgrade little break for visit Memorial center of Kolubara battle (I w.w.) unique in the world because soldiers of two enemy army were burried on the same place. Arrival Belgrade. Accomodation in hotel. Dinner. Overnight.

8. day Breakfast. Transfer to airport. Return flight. END OF PROGRAMME

PRICE PER PERSON: 405 EUR /for minimum 35 persons/

IN PRICE INCLUDED: - 7 halfboards in 3,4* hotels (one dinner is in Skadarlija quarter with music programme) - BUS ride according to programme (bus with WC, TV, video, air condition) - all entrancies - tourist guide, lokal guides - free places 1/25

IN PRICE NOT INCLUDED: - Air ticket to/ from Belgrade

ORGANIZER: INTERTOURS – Belgrade, Djure Djakovica 88 /Licence No: 20/

11000 Belgrade,Djure Djakovica 88 / Serbia, - Tel: 00381 11 2762-139; Tel/fax: 00381 11 2759-089 | http://www.intertours.co.yu | E-mail: [email protected] |