Agapia Monastery lies down a turn-off 4km south of Târgu Neamţ (the main road, towards Piatra Neamţ). Over 400 nuns live here. Agapia's larger of two monasteries is Agapia din Vale (Agapia in the Valley). Built between 1642 to 1644 by Gavril Coci (Vasile Lupu’s brother), it has relaxing gardens and impressive neoclassical facade (reconstructions between 1882 and 1903).
The impressive frescoed interior was painted between 1858 and 1861 by a very young painter- the famous Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907). A small right-hand museum exhibits 16th- and 17th-century icons. Agapia din Vale offers accommodation for pilgrims (30 lei per person, no breakfast).
