Kirchen & Klöster

Panagia Kera Kardiotissa

Chersonissos, Heraklion

About

Old monastery with fine frescoes near Kera.

The monastery of Panagia Kera Kardiotissa lies on the northern slopes of the Dikti mountains, near the village of Kera, on the road to the Lasithi plateau. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete, first mentioned in the 14th century.

The monastery is dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, its miraculous icon was stolen and taken to Rome, but it returned to the monastery several times on its own. The church has fine frescoes from the 14th century.

The monastery is a peaceful stop on the way up to the plateau.

Hersonissos is the busiest resort area of Crete, stretching along the north coast east of Heraklion, with Gouves, Hersonissos, Stalida and Malia. The beaches are long and sandy, with every facility, and the nightlife is lively. Behind the resorts, villages like Koutouloufari, Piskopiano, Mochos and Krasi keep a traditional atmosphere and offer cooler evenings with views. The Minoan palace of Malia, the Cretaquarium and the open-air museum of Lychnostatis are all in the area.

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

Around Chersonissos

Heraklion is the heart of Minoan Crete and the island’s busiest region. Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum are the two places almost everyone visits, and they work well together on one day. In the south, the wide Messara plain holds the palace of Phaistos, the Roman ruins of Gortyna and the famous caves above the bay of Matala. More about Heraklion