Serbian Medieval Art and History in a Nutshell
Requirements:
No special requirements
The medieval Serbian state rose to its peak during the rule of the Nemanjić dynasty and its divine rulers. Their power was spread from the county of Raška which was their home realm. There, they built courts, fortresses, and most of all, monasteries-celestial, educational, linguistic, health, legal, and scholar centers. Studenica monastery, built by grand prince Stefan Nemanja, the founder of the dynasty, to serve as a mausoleum and an ideal for his successors, still stands in all its might and beauty. The location is what brings one's senses to the state of rest and solitude while listening to the sounds of pure nature, breathing fresh air, and looking at the peaceful characters on the masterpieces of fresco paintings, created eight centuries ago. Žiča monastery was built for the other purpose-to serve as the seat of Serbian Archbishops and a place of coronation of Serbian kings. Find out why the monastery church is called „the seven doors church“, and why it was a target of all the enemies that attacked Serbia. The road between these two monasteries runs through the Ibar river gorge commonly known as The Valley of Kings, guarded by Maglič- a mighty fortress built by king Uroš the First.
Hear the legendary stories about the medieval Serbian kingdom, find out why Serbian kings built monasteries and why they were resigning, to spend their last years as monks.
We will pick you up in front of your accommodation at 8 am. After a two-hour drive, we will reach Kraljevo- King’s city and Žiča monastery which lies just a few kilometers away. The monastery complex is dominated by a red façade church-archiepiscopal seat, where seven medieval Serbian kings were crowned. The story says that a king could be crowned in any Serbian church but was not considered a true king before he was crowned in Žiča. This is the place where in 1217. Stefan Nemanja's son became the first king of independent Serbia - Stefan the First Crowned, and his brother-prince who became a monk - Sava, started his service as the first Archbishop of Serbia in 1219. We will depart from Žiča and soon enter the Ibar river gorge, where we will see the Maglič fortress that lies on a steep hill. Your guide will surely tell you a story about King Uroš and his unusual wedding present to his future wife. We will take a side road and enter a secluded area of the Golija- Studenica natural reserve. Around noon, we will reach Studenica monastery walls and at the first site, you will fall in love with the picturesque scenery. First, we will visit the monastery guesthouse to refresh ourselves after the drive. Our guide will tell you stories about the beginnings of the Serbian state and the divine rulers of the Nemanjić dynasty, while you enjoy sips of monastery brandy, spring water, and domestic coffee. Our guide will give you a detailed tour of the Monastery complex and its main church, where you will see 800 years old fresco masterpieces, and graves of Serbian rulers and fill yourself with some unexplainable energy. After the tour, you will have enough time to explore the complex by yourself. We will have a late lunch in the oldest traditional Inn in Serbia, just by the Ibar river, on our way back to Belgrade.
