MONASTÈRE DE STUDENICA

Built by Stefan Nemanja (1171-1196), founder of the medieval Serbian state and creator of a powerful dynasty that ruled Serbia for two centuries, the monastery of Studenica was originally conceived as a model for future monasteries. Today, the monastery complex consists of only three churches, a far cry from the twelve that existed there before the Ottoman period, and of residential buildings of a singular form because they are organized in a perfect arc around the places of worship. The Church of the Holy Virgin, built at the end of the 12th century by Stefan Nemanja, has the characteristics of a Romanesque and Byzantine style building, with white marble exterior walls. In the time of the empire of Tsar Dušan, Studenica was not only the most important religious sanctuary, but also a real literary and artistic center, training scholars and hosting artists from all over the Balkan region. Today, it is a place of strong symbolic importance, representing the origins of the Serbian nation and symbolizing its faith and resistance to centuries of Ottoman occupation. The site of the monastery is well maintained and continues to attract crowds, including more and more tourists. The monastery is known for its collection of 13th and 14th century frescoes, the most famous of which is the Crucifixion of Christ, dating from 1207. The whole site was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.