The rolling hills and winding roads of
Fruska Gora are a pleasant change from the featureless farmland north of
Belgrade. They also provide the perfect setting for Serbian Orthodox
Monasteries that date from the Fifteenth to Eighteenth Centuries. Their remote
location not only protected the monks from the temptations of the outside
world, it hid the monasteries from the invading Turks.
Sixteen of the original 35 monasteries
still function today, and Sremski Karlovci's Hotel Danuv makes a great base for exploring them. Some, like Krusedol, were burned down by the Turks and
later rebuilt. The frescoes at Krusedol have been restored and look crisp
and modern while those at Novo Hopovo are original in the style of Mt. Athos in
Greece.
My favorite is Grgeteg Monastery, carefully
tended by female monks. It is as peaceful and inviting as Santa Catalina
Monastery in Arequipa, Peru but in a much nicer setting. If it weren't
for the entire religion thing - and vows of celebacy - I could consider a
monastic life of contemplation.
