Monastery of Panagia Chrisoskalitisa

The monastery of Panagia Chrisoskalitissa is located 72km south of Chania, very close to the magnificent lagoon of Elafonissi. It operates as a nunnery and reminds of a fortress, perched on a 35m high rock with boundless sea views.

The name of the monastery means Our Lady Gold-stepped in Greek. This is taken after one step out of 98, which, according to tradition, was gold. It is said that only those who really believe in god can still see it. However, another version says that the golden stair was sold by the Patriarchate to solve the economic problems of the monastery during the Turkish Era.

The temple has two aisles dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity. The exact date of the establishment of the monastery is unknown. Near Chrisoskalitissa there was the monastery of St. Nicholas, which operated during the Turkish Period. On the beach, next to the monastery, a small fishing village of the Middle Minoan period has been found.

According to the tradition, here were buried in 1527 the rebels George and Peter Kantanoleon, for whom the Cretans Weddings were written Zambelios.