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hidden europe 30

Painted churches

by hidden europe

Summary

The UNESCO World Heritage List features many ornately decorated churches across Europe. The List includes the painted monasteries of southern Bukovina (described elsewhere in this issue), as well as murals on churches in Switzerland, Bulgaria and Germany - not to mention the fabulous painted churches of the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus.

hidden europe 30 / Snippet  / By hidden europe

UNESCO officials evidently have a soft spot for painted churches. The painted monasteries of southern Bukovina (see above feature) are included on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites. Cast your eye over the UNESCO list and you will find painted churches aplenty. What is distinctive about the Romanian monasteries is that, as Laurence Mitchell highlights in his article above, it is not just the interiors but also the exteriors of the buildings that are painted. But for devotees of indoor religious art, where are the best churches on offer?

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