Suceava is the largest city of Bukovina and the historical capital of Moldova. Moldavian hospods had their headquarters here, and among the monuments of the city there is a huge castle and numerous churches, including the Monastery of St. John the New.
The greatest boom in Suceava took place in the 15th and 16th centuries, when it was the seat of the Moldavian hospodars, Alexander the Good, Stefan the Great and Piotr Raresz. They erected the Castle in Suceava, which has now regained its former splendor after many years of renovation and is available for sightseeing. The stronghold defended itself against the invasion led by the Polish king Jan Olbracht, but was later handed over to the Turkish army.
Although Suceava does not have a compact old town, in its buildings you can find real architectural gems, mainly of a sacred nature. The main attractions of Suceava include the 16th century monastery of St. John the New, whose interior is covered with magnificent paintings. The church of St. George, the Church of St. Demetrius, the Church of St. Pantalejmon, the Coconilor church and the Armenian Zamca Monastery, fortified in the 17th century by the army of Jan Sobieski.
Suceava as the main center of Bukovina is the seat of many cultural institutions. There is the Bukovina Museum and the picturesque Bukowina Village Museum and the Museum of Natural Sciences. There is a thriving center of Polish culture in the city.
