BBukovina is a historical region in Romania, located on the northern slopes of the central Eastern Carpathians. The territory of Bukovina had been part of Moldavia since the 14th century. It was first delineated as a separate district in 1775, and was made a nominal duchy within the Austrian Empire in 1849.

This is the home to one of the world's greatest art treasures: the UNESCO World heritage sites of the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries and featuring colourful exterior frescoes depicting dramatic religious scenes, these richly decorated houses of worships are unique in the world. The purpose of the frescoes was to make the story of the Bible and the lives of the most important Orthodox saints known to villagers by the use of images.

The most famous of these, often called "the Sistine Chapel of the East" is Voronet Monastery, erected in 1438 by Stefan the Great. The blue paint that has miraculously never faded is known throughout the world as 'Voronet blue'. The artists here worked in isolation, guarding their trade secrets and to this day, the composition of the paint remains a mystery. Other painted churches not to be missed include Sucevita, with its distinctive greens, and Humor, where the frescoes are predominantly red.