ROMANIA

may 2025
dr nick gordon

*** Preliminary Itinerary ***

Discover Romania, from the ancient Dacians to a complex history between the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires, as well as its revival after the fall of Communism

OVERVIEW

Although briefly a far-flung province of the Roman Empire, Romania is still marked by a Latin language and culture. This has persisted into the present day, alongside the presence of diverse peoples and empires: Slavs, Ottomans, Germans and Hungarians. The result is a complex legacy and unique modern culture: there’s much more to Romania than Vlad the Impaler!

Limelight Arts Travel’s new tour introduces you to the many different faces of Romania. We begin in Bucharest, whose reputation as the ‘Paris of the East’ survives among the monumental architecture of Ceaușescu’s regime. After exploring the eclectic capital and its surrounds, we travel north into the Carpathians, visiting delightful castles and monasteries and discovering Transylvania’s medieval Saxon heritage.

Our journey continues into the centre of the country, where we visit UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites that include the remains of the ancient capital of the Dacians. Heading into the north, we take a step back in time and encounter traditional culture in Maramureș, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed painted churches of Bucovina. Our final stop before returning to Bucharest is Iași, Romania’s cultural capital and a thriving university town.

The tour is rounded out by the expertise of Dr Nick Gordon, an experienced tour leader and director of Limelight Arts Travel, and by culinary experiences that showcase the unexpected delights of Romanian cuisine and wine.

Highlights

  • Discover an unexpected history of a Latin people between the Ottoman, Slavic and Germanic worlds

  • Explore an exceptional range of UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, from the citadel of the ancient Dacians, to fortified Saxon villages and the unique painted churches of Bucovina

  • Survey medieval monasteries, royal palaces and citadels in stunning positions

  • Appreciate delightful landscapes, including the foothills of the Carpathians and the forests of Transylvania

  • Get to know a unique architecture and art, marked by competing Ottoman, Orthodox and Western influences

  • Enjoy a culinary culture that draws on diverse influences from East and West, supported by a surprising range of regional wines

TOUR LEADER

Dr Nick Gordon is an artist and historian who studied history at the University of Sydney, receiving First Class Honours and the University Medal in 2003, and his PhD in 2008. He has taught medieval and Renaissance European history at the University of Sydney, and the history of political thought at WSU.

Nick has designed and led cultural tours to Europe, East Asia and Australia for more than a decade, including to contemporary art events in Venice, Basel, Shanghai, Naoshima, Melbourne and Hong Kong.

Tour leader image: David Li Photography

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