Stavropoleos Monastery
Stavropoleos Monastery features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Bucharest. Give it roughly ~25 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~25 min
- Bucharest Bucharest guide
About Stavropoleos Monastery
A tiny, exquisite Orthodox monastery church of 1724 hidden in the Old Town, a jewel of the Brâncovenesc style, famous for its carved stone porch, painted interior and Byzantine choral singing.
The Stavropoleos Monastery church, tucked into the Old Town just off Lipscani, was built in 1724 by a Greek monk, Ioannikios Stratonikeas, who supported it from the income of his nearby inn. Its name comes from the Greek Stavropolis, 'city of the Cross'. The little church is a celebrated example of the Brâncovenesc style, a late-Wallachian blend of local and Byzantine forms, with a carved stone porch of slender columns and a richly painted interior.
The inn and the monastery's other buildings were lost in the nineteenth century; the cloister and courtyard around the church were rebuilt in the early twentieth century to designs by the architect Ion Mincu, and now hold a library and a collection of carved stone and wall paintings rescued from churches demolished under communism. A community of nuns lives here, and the church is renowned for its Byzantine chant.
Did you know? The church was built in 1724 by a Greek monk, Ioannikios, who paid for it from the income of his nearby inn; its name comes from the Greek Stavropolis, 'city of the Cross'.
How long is a visit to Stavropoleos Monastery?
Set aside roughly ~25 min for Stavropoleos Monastery. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Stavropoleos Monastery worth your time?
Stavropoleos Monastery is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Bucharest, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Bucharest
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Stavropoleos Monastery and read more:
Day 1 of the Bucharest in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Stavropoleos Monastery
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