The Romania Photo of the Day created in partnership with stock photo provider Dreamstime aims to highlight the best of Romania. From stunning landscapes and popular tourist destinations and landmarks to people, traditions, and food, this series helps you discover Romania one photo at a time. This week, we put the focus on beautiful Romanian landscapes in autumn colors. 

On a small island in Snagov Lake, stands a beautiful church - one of the most important religious monuments in the South of Romania. (Photo source - click on the number to get to the photo 125849290 © Ionut Petrea | Dreamstime.com)

The church, originally part of a monastery (which is why it is still referred to as Snagov Monastery) dates back to the medieval times, when local rulers built or strengthened it, as the case may be, in order to support the Romanian Orthodox Church (and probably make a good name for themselves in the process).

Over the years, many rulers contributed to the building of this settlement, says historia.ro, creating a center for Orthodox spirituality and culture. For instance, in the 1450s, Vlad the Impaler enlarged and fortified it during his reign, adding fortification walls, a bridge, monks’ cells, a belfry, and a prison for criminals and traitors, as well as an underwater tunnel. 

According to atlasobscura.com, the story goes that Vlad the Impaler was buried in the church as per his request prior to his death. A number of archeologists and historians have worked to verify whether this tale is fact or simple apocrypha and none have been able to prove that the medieval ruler was ever laid to rest on the island. After having dug up some of the site’s burial stones a mix of horse and human bones were found, but nothing that confirms his internment here. Most historians now believe that the Prince of Wallachia was buried in a monastery in the Comana area, but this has not stopped the locals from spreading the myth.

In April 1694, historia.ro continues, Constantin Brâncoveanu appointed Antim Ivireanul as abbot of the Snagov Monastery. The theologian and man of culture of Georgian origin carried out a rich printing activity here, printing numerous books, not only in Romanian but also in Greek, Slavonic, and Arabic.

In the 19th century, the monastery gradually deteriorated and came to the brink of disintegration.

At the beginning of the 20th century, several works were carried out to renovate the place of worship, but the church fell back into the shadows during the communist period, and was badly affected by the 1977 earthquake.

In 1991 works to reconsolidate, refurbish and restore this historical monument began. Nowadays, the only parts of the monastery left standing are the main church dedicated to the Entrance of the Holy Mary into the Church, the bell tower, and the remains of the old chapels.

At present, the island can be reached via a pedestrian walkway, or by boat from Snagov Village.

maia@romania-insider.com