Surrounded by vineyards, orchards and forests Cetatuia monastery is located on a hill next to the city of Iasi.



The monastery was built in 1669 by Duca Voda a Moldavian leader.



Used in times of war as a defense rampart the monastery is surrounded with a thick stone wall with loop hole openings, used in medieval times for shooting at approaching enemies.



The church and all the other buildings around served as a hospital for the wounded Romanian soldiers of the World War I.



The monastery was also a shelter of culture having it's own printing house. Dimitrie Cantemir and the metropolit Dosoftei stayed and worked here.