SERBIA // In a country bursting with Byzantine-style monasteries, Studenica stands out, and for good reason: it was established in 1196 by the founder of the Serbian empire (and future saint), Stefan Nemanja. Within the walls of the ancient complex, hushed monastic life has thrived throughout the turbulent centuries. The grand white-marble Church of Our Lady is the final resting place of Stefan Nemanja, while the elegant King's Church is a showcase of ethereal medieval frescoes. To truly walk in the saints' steps, visit the hermitage of St Sava (Nemanja's son and revered founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church), a cave-like clutch of monks' cells carved into a cliff soaring above the Studenica canyon.