Visiting the Capriana Monastery

Moldova is home to a surprising number of monasteries, and Capriana was easily one of the most beautiful places I visited in the country. The monastery dates back to the 15th century and has stood here for more than five hundred years. The complex includes several churches and other buildings spread across the grounds, but my favorite was the structure photographed above, often referred to as the Winter Church.

I wasn’t the only person who thought the monastery made an impressive setting. A wedding was taking place while I visited, and the couple was kind enough to let me photograph them. It gave the monastery a much more active feeling than simply visiting an old religious monument that had been preserved for tourists.

At the time of my visit, I had a hard time finding much detailed information about Capriana in English. I knew the monastery was centuries old, but without a guide I wasn’t able to learn as much about its history as I would have liked. This priest was praying inside one of the churches and probably could have answered far more questions than I had, but the language barrier made that impossible.

The interior decoration was one of the highlights of the visit. The painted ceiling above was especially impressive and was easily one of the most beautiful church interiors I saw during my travels through Moldova.

Monastery Grounds

Walking around the grounds, the monastery felt less like a tourist attraction and more like an active religious community. Several buildings surrounded the churches, and although I couldn’t identify the purpose of each one, some appeared to be connected with the everyday life and work of the monks who live here.

That was part of what made Capriana so interesting to me. The complex felt historic, but not frozen in time. People were still praying, maintaining the property, celebrating weddings, and going about daily life around buildings that had existed for centuries.

This old well stood elsewhere on the monastery grounds and appeared to still be maintained. Small details like this made it easier to imagine how the complex functioned long before modern utilities reached the area.

Other Residents

The monks weren’t the only residents I encountered. A small group of puppies appeared to have made the monastery grounds their home as well. They all looked fairly young, and I never saw any adult dogs nearby.

Capriana ended up being one of my favorite stops in Moldova. I went mainly to see an old monastery, but the wedding, active religious life, painted interiors, historic buildings, and even the puppies made the visit feel much more personal than I expected. If I return to Moldova, I’d like to come back with a better understanding of the monastery’s history and spend more time exploring the surrounding area.