Ukraine: Chernivtsi – Bukovinian Metropolitans’ Residence

This is one of the seven UNESCO sites in Ukraine – Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans. This is a massive palace built in the mid-19th century for the religious heads of the Eastern Orthodox Church following the incorporation of the region of Bukovina into the Austro-Hungarian empire. It took 25 yeas to built. A contest was held for the best architectural design and a check architect was selected who proposed a fusion style of the Byzantine and Moorish architecture combined with local eastern Slavic traditions, it almost resembles Alhambra somewhat. There are multiple red brick buildings densely packed into a gated courtyard. The residence of the. Metropolitan is central and clock towers and other towers are around and at the corners. There are also monastery buildings, seminary buildings, and church buildings. Interestingly, the clock tower is decorated with Stars of David to commemorate the mostly Jewish masons working on the construction. Today, the entire complex is the University of Chernivtsi.