Eleven kilometres away from Usce in the direction of Ivanjica there is the most complete, from the viewpoint of architecture, and also without doubt of the most prestige a monastery in Serbia. The monastery ensemble has been composed of three churches. There were 12 of them before the Ottoman era, and the quarter building of a unique form, because designed in the form of a perfect arc of the circle around the places of the cult. Studenica was not only in the times of the empire of Tsar Dusan the most important religious holy place, but it represented a literary and artistic centre forming the books and gathering together the artist coming from all Balkan region.
Built by Stefan Nemanja (1171-1196) the founder of the Serbian State and also the founder of a powerful dynasty who reigned Serbia during two centuries. The monastery of Studenica had been conceived at first to be a model to many consequently built monasteries. The church of the Saint Virgin constructed at the end of the XII century by Stefan Nemanja represents characteristics of Roman and Byzantine styles with the outside walls in the white marble. The plastic decorations of two portals and the window frames reached a rare artistic level: eagles, sphinxes, bucks stylises cocks alternate with the insertions of the vine and allegorical leaves. Entering the neonathrex one may observe the treasury maintained here since the Middle Ages the ring of Stefan Prvovencani and the manuscript incrusted with gold and the precious stones. In the following naos there is the tomb of Stefan Nemanja on the right and just above the door the celebrated “Crucifixion of Christ”, a very beautiful azure blue background Jesus Christ is surrounded by Virgin Mary on the left. St. John and St. Longin on the right. At the bottom of the church behind the relics of St. Anastasia and Stefan Prvovencani an iconostas very baroque with a lot of gilt and convolutes. Entirely around there are the representations of the prophets and the Communion of Apostles. One should know that the greatest part of the original layer of the frescoes decorating the Church if the Virgin had been uncovered during the conservation works. The frescos dated in the second half of the last century had been entirely drawn back in this moment.
The mutilations suffered by the ancient layer had been done by the artists’ tools who wanted to assure a better adherence for the mortar for the new frescoes. But they say that their hands trembled before the beauty of the persons presented giving the impression of surrealism to the paintings in the royal church of St. Nicholas. It is the presentation of the founder Stefan Uros Milutin between St. Ann and the Virgin Mary and beside his wife Simonide. He is holding the model of the church in his hands symbolizing the state power. The magnificent paintings in this little church dating in the XIV century are illustrating especially the life of the Virgin Mary in the composition of the luminous beauty.
