Kirchen & Klöster Geheimtipp

Asomaton Monastery

Amari, Rethymno · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A monastery in the Amari valley.

The monastery of Asomaton lies in the Amari valley, between Mount Kedros and Psiloritis, about 35 km south-east of Rethymno. It was founded in the Byzantine period and later became an agricultural school.

The monastery of the Asomaton, the "bodiless" angels, is one of the oldest in the Amari valley. In the 20th century it housed an agricultural school, and today it's a centre for agricultural research. The valley around it, between Psiloritis and Kedros, is green and fertile, with many Byzantine churches.

The Amari valley is one of the most beautiful areas of Crete, with green hills, olive groves and Byzantine churches with frescoes. The monastery of the Asomaton lies in the middle of the valley, and the drive through the villages is lovely.

Around Amari

Nearest town: Agia Galini, about 21 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 63 km by road

Rethymno sits between the mountains and two seas, and it is the easiest region to combine with the rest of the island. Its old town and Fortezza are among the best preserved on Crete, with Venetian doorways, Ottoman wooden balconies and a long sandy beach right next to the centre. More about Rethymno