Curchi Monastery (Mănăstirea Curchi)

Deep in the oak forest southwest of Orhei, Curchi Monastery is an Orthodox complex whose churches went up over two centuries. The main one is the summer cathedral from 1872 with an eye catching dome that sits roughly 60m high. No other dome in the country is taller. Soviet authorities closed the place in the 1950s and used the grounds as a psychiatric hospital for decades. Restoration to fix all that damage has been going on for years and is still not finished. If you set up just after the main gate and shoot down the lane you'll be able to line up the cathedral perfectly, then you can easily explore the grounds to experiment with capturing the full collection of buildings within the complex. A path runs along the forest edge past a lake, and that distance opens up a wider frame. Interiors are gilded and dim, so make sure to bring a fast lens. Late light warms the walls. Since the site is filled with endless restoration expect to run into scaffolding somewhere on site. While you are shooting here remember it is a working monastery, so ask before photographing inside or any of the monks. Ideally try to arrive here early, before the tour vans of the say start to arrive. (Curchi, Orhei District, Moldova)