NORTHERN VALACCHIA (Romania)

The Transfagarasan road, is one of the highest of Europe. It crosses the summits of the Carpathian Mountains at 2034 metres of altitude, connecting the Transylvania to the Valacchia. It passes under the Poienari Castle. It is considered the true castle of the prince Drakula who made built in 1459 by the Turkish prisoners. There are 1480 steps to go up to the ruins of this fortification, situated between the vegetation on the side of a hill, to the south of the Vidraru lake. The road arrives to Curtea de Arges, a province town that in XIV the century was center of the princedom of Valacchia. Curtea de Arges is the gate of access to the Fagaras Mountains, and now it is pleasant place loved by the Rumanian medium class for the weekends and the summer holidays. In the northern Valacchia there are beautiful monasteries, like the Horezu Monastery, declared Patrimony of the Humanity by the Unesco, and the Cozia Monastery with its wonderful frescoes.

To know more:
www.romania.it (Italian)
www.ice.gov.it/estero2/bucarest (Italian)
www.romania.org (english)
www.romaniatourism.com (english)

Reportage: 100 photos on CD-ROM