Lavinia is a travel, fashion and lifestyle photographer often featured in Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue Paris, and Yolo Journal, known for capturing mundane moments suspended in time, bathed in a very unique golden, cinematic light.
A native of Transylvania, we have asked her to share her insider's tips for visiting this area of Romania known for its rich history, multi-cultural character and well-preserved medieval cities and towns with Unesco World Heritage sites.
"It's always a joy for me to share a glimpse into my native Transylvania, a region that is increasingly the destination on everyone’s lips: the (much disputed) birthplace of Dracula and widely considered Europe’s last great wilderness. King Charles has several homes here and returns to recharge every summer without fail."
What do you love most about the area? For me it’s the most special place to come back to after all the travelling for photo assignments: it’s wildly beautiful and rooted in traditions and I think everyone who appreciates nature, history and simplicity will love it.
What is a must-see? I particularly love the Saxon Villages – rich in keeping the traditions, it’s like going back in time in some way, to a slower pace of life, where you notice and live the change of seasons, where you are able to appreciate the little things.
Where to stay? We like to rent a beautiful restored home often with its own garden and courtyard, feast on the ripe apricots or plums, or grapes - depending on the season, take long walks and immerse in that sweet countryside life.
Shopping tips? I love going to local fairs or discovering beautiful pottery, handmade soaps, beautiful Romanian blouses in Sighisoara - the only inhabited medieval fortress in South-East Europe , Sibiu or the smaller villages with a Saxon heritage.
What to pack? I’m infatuated my beautiful Mini Cesta - it reminds me of the handmade straw baskets women use in their daily life in Transylvania. And I feel like the Slippers are such a classic staple, they’ll be taking me places, for sure.
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