Category: Monasteries - Churches
Region: Heraklion Prefecture

Monastery of Varsamoneron

The deserted monastery of Varsamonero is located about 53km southwest of Heraklion, on the southern slopes of Psiloritis Range. It was built in a panoramic area near Vorizia village, overlooking the plain of Messara.

Vrodisiou Monastery

There are documents concerning the Monastery since 1400. It was one of the most important monastic and spiritual centres of Crete. It was a centre of the revolution of 1866 against the Turks and, as a result, it was greatly damaged.

Agios Panteleimon Monastery

The monastery of Saint Panteleimon is located 25km west of Heraklion and 3km south of Fodele, in a wooded area of orange and olive groves. The monastery was built with fortress architecture. Today a part of the walls and the beautiful entrance to the mona

Agia Irini Monastery in Krousonas

The monastery of Agia Irini is very old, probably dating from the last years of Venetian rule in Crete. It is a picturesque monastery in a very beautiful setting high up in a mountain. The road to it is very good. The convent is well kept and pleasant to

Collection of Agia Aikaterini of Sinai

The Agia Aikaterine of Sinai Monastery, which originally was a dependency of the Monastery of the same name on Mount Sinai and today belongs to the metropolitan church of Agios Menas, was an important cultural and artistic centre of Crete under Venetian o

Gorgolainis Monastery near Asites

The monastery of Saint George Gorgolainis is located at an altitude of 480m, next to the village Asites, 24km south of Heraklion. It is built at a lush green area with huge platan, cypress and oak trees. Indeed, one platan and one cypress tree inside the

Agios Nikolaos Monastery in Zaros

The monastery of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) is located just off the beautiful canyon Gafaris (or Rouvas), about 48km southwest of Heraklion and 3km north of Zaros village. It is situated at the point where in 1994 a great fire burnt much of the beaut

Apezanes Monastery

The Monastery of St. Anthony in Apezanes or Apezana, is built on a rocky plateau of Asterousia Mountains, at an altitude of 440m, approximately 63km south of Herakleion. From there starts a short valley that leads from Antiskari village to the beachfront

Monastery Odigitria

Located 70 km from Herakleion in a dry and barren place full of Byzantine monuments. It is one of the most important monasteries in Crete with a history closely linked to the history of the small monasteries and hermitages in the area.

Paliani Monastery in Venerato

The nunnery of Paliani is located at an altitude of 280m, next to the village Venerato, 20km north of Heraklion at the exit of Venerato Gorge. The monastery is dedicated to the Assumption and celebrates on August 15.

Monastery Agarathou

The monastery Agarathou dedicated to Virgin Mary and is a rather rocky hill between the villages and Saba Sgourokefali within 23 km from Heraklion.

Savvathiana Monastery near Rogdia

The monastery of Savatiana is located in Rogdia, 20km west of the city of Heraklion. The monastery is one of the several monasteries that operated in the area during the Venetian period, which was later mercilessly destroyed by the Turks.

Epanosifi Monastery

Located at an altitude of 480 meters, at a distance of 32 km from Heraklion, Epanosifi monastery is regarded as one of the richest and largest monasteries of Crete. It flourished during the Ottoman period and is dedicated to St. George.

Monastery Koudouma

The monastery celebrates the Assumption. Built along the shore, and until recently was only accessible by foot. Both the temple and the monks' cells were built in cavernous hollows. In 1900 it had 29 resident monks, but worked several years ago, as we kno

Saint Minas

The foundations of the imposing Saint Minas were laid on 25 March 1862. The site is said to have been indicated by a monk to whom St Minas appeared in a vision. The cathedral was built by Athanassios Moussis, the architect of Agios Titos and the barracks