Εκκλησίες & μοναστήρια

Odigitria Monastery

Φαιστός, Ηράκλειο · Δωρεάν

Χαρακτηριστικά & παροχές

Είσοδος: Δωρεάν

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A fortified monastery in the Asterousia.

The monastery of Panagia Odigitria lies in the Asterousia mountains, about 10 km south-east of Sivas, on the way to Kali Limenes. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete, dating back at least to the 14th century.

The monastery has a defensive tower, a church with old frescoes and a small museum. During the Ottoman period, the monk Ioseph Gerontogiannis, known as Xopateras, fought against the Turks from the tower. Near the monastery, archaeologists found Minoan tholos tombs.

From the monastery, a dirt road leads to the start of the walk through the Agiofarago gorge to the beach.

Near the monastery, archaeologists found two Minoan tholos tombs in use for more than a thousand years, with seals, gold diadems, stone vases and jewellery among the finds. The monastery itself is still active, and the monks are welcoming to respectful visitors. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. The landscape of the Asterousia around it is wild and rocky, with views towards the Libyan Sea.

Γύρω από Φαιστός

Πλησιέστερη πόλη: Matala, περίπου 7 χλμ. οδικώς
Πλησιέστερο αεροδρόμιο: Heraklion airport (HER), περίπου 69 χλμ. οδικώς

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. Περισσότερα για Ηράκλειο