The most beautiful religious buildings Iaşi

The "beautiful" monastery was built in 1586, restored between 1726 and 1733 by Prince Gheorghe Ghica II and rebuilt again between 1836 and 1839. It was one of the richest monasteries in Moldova until secularization in 1863, after which it served as a parish church, but also as barracks, prison and nursing school. Reinstated in 2002, it is now occupied by nuns. Its church has Ukrainian-style bulbs and a classical façade, with a high Doric portico supported by four columns.

This richly decorated monastery, which combines traditional Moldavian architecture and Renaissance style, was built by Vasile Lupu between 1650 and 1653. Its church contains remarkable Byzantine-inspired frescoes. The fortifications date from 1668. Destroyed by fire and earthquake in 1735 and 1738, the monastery was rebuilt in 1754. Gradually falling into ruin, it was not restored until 1947. Its imposing 30-metre-high tower offers a fine panoramic view. At the entrance, a small museum is dedicated to the writer Ion Creangă, who was a deacon here.

Completed in 1671, it is the country's oldest synagogue still in use. Now surrounded by apartment buildings, it was once located in the heart of the old Jewish quarter of Târgu Cucului, where several other synagogues were located. In the 1930s, there were over a hundred synagogues in the whole city, and Jews made up a third of the population. Today, there are just a few hundred. A small obelisk commemorating the victims of the Iași pogroms of June 1941 stands in front of the recently renovated building.

For its size and influence, it is nicknamed "the mother of Moldavian churches". This imposing monument, the largest Orthodox building in the country (not counting the new cathedral in Bucharest), was built in two stages, between 1839 and 1886, in a Baroque and Neoclassical style. It features 4 towers and a columned façade. The interior paintings are by Tattarescu (1887). It houses the relics of Saint Paraschève, which attract many pilgrims.

This church, unique in the country, never fails to amaze, with its finely chiselled exterior walls, like stone embroidery, once gold-plated and largely preserved in its original form. The motifs are inspired by Romanian tradition, but also borrow from Turkish, Arab, Georgian, Armenian and Persian cultures. The Church of the Three Hierarchs(biserica Trei Ierarhi) was built between 1637 and 1649 by Vasile Lupu, prince of Moldavia and lover of the arts and the Christian faith. Damaged by Tatars and earthquakes, it was renovated at the end of the ^19th century by the French architect Lecomte du Nouÿ, who restored many religious buildings in the country. Inside, you'll find the tombs of princes Vasile Lupu, Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723) and Alexandru Ion Cuza (1820-1873). The Carrara marble iconostasis, decorated with mosaics and enamels, dates from the late ^19th century. In the ^17th century, the monastery housed a printing press and an educational institution. It was also here that the relics of Saint Parasceva were first collected, donated by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to Vasile Lupu in gratitude for his financial support. They were later transferred to the Metropolitan Cathedral. Closed in the 1970s, the monastery was revived in 1994. The adjoining Gothic hall houses a museum dedicated to the arts and ecclesiastical history.

It sits atop a wooded hill to the south of the town. The view from here is breathtaking. Built during the reign of Prince Gheorghe Duca, between 1669 and 1672, the monastery is a precious architectural landmark that has remained virtually unchanged since its construction. The church, with its slender silhouette, contains remarkable interior frescoes in the post-Byzantine style, dating from the ^17th century. It is surrounded by a large surrounding wall and includes numerous outbuildings, including a palace reserved for princes, who could take refuge here.

The Armenian church (biserica armenească Sfânta Născătoare) is said to be the oldest in the city. It dates from 1395 according to an inscription found during major renovations carried out in 1803. It is considered that this inscription represents the date of birth of the town and proof of the presence of an important Armenian community, which had sufficient means to build a church. Right next to it is the church of St. Sava (strada Costache Negri 44). Dating from 1583, it has an unusual silhouette with its domes and massive appearance.

Perched atop the hill of the same name, surrounded by an almost round enclosure, it was erected at the end of the ^16th century by Prince Petru Şchiopul (Peter the Limping). Its name derives from the eponymous Istanbul district, Galata meaning "gate" in Turkish: it was here that Moldavian princes lodged on their way to the seat of the Ottoman sultanate to receive their decree of appointment. The church combines Wallachian, Moldavian and Byzantine architectural styles. Its frescoes were destroyed by fire in 1762. The monastery now houses a convent.