Studenica monastery, Orthodox monastery in Raška District, Serbia.
Studenica monastery is an Orthodox complex in Raška District, Serbia, encompassing three marble churches and surrounded by fortification walls. The churches show stone reliefs and sculpture work, while the inner courtyards connect through narrow archways and contain smaller service buildings.
Stefan Nemanja founded the complex in 1190 and later withdrew here as monk Simeon until his death. His son King Stefan expanded the compound in the 13th century by adding the King's Church and reinforcing the defences.
The foundation for Serbian church painting was laid here in the late 12th century, when Byzantine masters created the first frescoes. Later generations of monks added more murals, so today different eras and styles appear on the inner walls of the three churches.
The monastery sits southwest of Kraljevo in wooded hills, reachable via a side road from the main route to Novi Pazar. A small parking area lies outside the walls, and from there you walk through the main gate and reach the churches via paved paths within the complex.
A small chapel in the outer courtyard holds the tomb of Stefan Nemanja, its marble sarcophagus protected by metal grilles. Monks have produced handwritten books in the monastery workshop for centuries, with some early examples still kept in the library.
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