Studenica Monastery

Studenica is one of the most admired medieval monasteries in Serbia. Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja, who founded the Nemanjić dynasty, built it in the 12th century and is buried under its vaults. Its walls are faced with white marble and finished with carved window decoration, in the Raška style.

The frescoes in the King's Church are regarded as masterpieces of 13th-century art, and the monastery's treasury holds applied art, including the ring of Stefan Nemanja. It is a working monastery, so we'd dress modestly, keep voices low and ask before photographing inside. It takes some driving from Belgrade, so most people combine it with a night in the region or a longer loop through central Serbia.