Manastirea Valea Manastirii

Mănăstirea Valea Mănăstirii is an Orthodox monastic complex situated in the village of Valea Mănăstirii, commune of Țițești, Argeș County, approximately 28 km from Pitești. Construction of the main church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, began in 1512, its founder being Radu Paisie, the future ruler of Wallachia (1535–1545). Historical documents attest to the existence of a place of worship on this site before 1534 — a charter dated 29 December 1532 mentions it explicitly, while the tombstones of the noblewomen Neaga (1492) and Vișa (1525), discovered in the nave, confirm the antiquity of the site. The church follows a trefoil (triconch) floor plan, with a square wooden tower lit by four tall windows and a bell-shaped shingled roof. The exterior decoration features horizontal courses of exposed brick alternating with plastered sections, without niches, and a cornice of sawtooth-laid bricks — elements also found at the church of Mănăstirea Dealu near Târgoviște. The interior preserves three successive layers of wall paintings: the first from 1548 (during the reign of Mircea Ciobanul), the second from 1746, and the third from 1846. The carved wooden iconostasis dates from the 18th century, from the time of Constantin Mavrocordat. The monastic complex comprises the church, the bell tower, the ruins of the old cells, and a partially preserved enclosure wall. Access is via DN73 Pitești–Câmpulung, at km 20 turning right towards Țițești, then 6 km to the monastery.