Places
Early Christian Basilica (Panormo)
This is the largest Early Christian Basilica on Crete and is dedicated to Agia Sophia (Holy Wisdom). Architecturally speaking, it is a wooden-roofed basilica with a T-shaped transept, a total length of 54 metres and a total width of 23 metres. The basilica dates back to the 5th century and seems to have been in […]
Early Christian Basilica (Eleftherna)
Recent excavations at Pyrgi brought to light a three-aisled Early Christian Basilica built in Ancient Eleftherna. The three aisled and the narthex have been fully revealed, while the mosaic floors with geometrical shapes and plant décor are visible. The walls of the basilica and the pillars supporting the interior arcades were decorated with tiles placed […]
Koimisi tis Theotokou (Dormition of Mother Mary) (Kyrianna)
The Byzantine church of the Dormition of Mother Mary is located at the centre of Kyrianna. It is an arch-covered cruciform domed church with a large narthex, dating back to the 11th century. During the early years of the era of Ventian rule, the church was expanded to the west, where doors were added with […]
Agios Dimitrios (St. Demetrius) (Agios Dimitrios)
The village was named after the Byzantine church of Saint Demetrius located in its northwest district. It is a cross-in-square domed church dating back to the 11th century and its stand-out features are its tall arches, arced openings and blind arches in its dome. The mural of Saint Tryfonas stands out among the surviving murals.
Panagia Kera (Our Lady) (Chromonastiri)
Panagia Kera is an 11th century cruciform Byzantine church with a cylindrical dome and narthex that is higher than its central part. Its murals date back to two periods (11th & 14th century), although few of the 11th century murals survive. The most important is the large icon of the Virgin Mary.
Agios Eftichios (St. Eutychius) (Chromonastiri)
This is an 11th century Byzantine church, as its murals testify. It was originally a single-aisled cruciform church, but received various additions over time, resulting in four smaller rooms around its central aisle at present. Agios Eftichios is the only church on Crete with five spaces. The murals were painted by Ioannis Xenos.
Church of Panagia (Mother Mary) (Roussospiti)
This is a 14th century single-space basilica that served as the first parish church of Roussospiti. It was converted into a café in 1896 by the Ottomans. During its recent restoration, Christian and Muslim tombs were discovered in its courtyard, meaning that it also served as the first cemetery of the village. The church features […]
Agios Theodoros Trichinas (St. Theodore the Hair-Shirt Wearer) (Rethymno)
A single-spaced domed chapel situated between the ramparts of Agios Nikolaos and Agios Pavlos within the Venetian citadel of Fortezza. It was inaugurated in 1899 by the Russian commander of the occupation forces of Rethymno, but the building was possibly the result of repairs to an older, pre-existing Venetian church.
Kyria ton Aggelon (Lady of the Angels) (Rethymno)
The church of the ‘Lady of the Angels’ is also known as ‘Mikri Panagia’ (‘Little Virgin Mary’), in contrast to the ‘Megali Panagia’ (‘Large Virgin Mary’), i.e. the metropolitan church. It was built in the late years of the era of Venetian rule and was dedicated to Mary Magdalene.
Agia Varvara (St. Barbara) (Rethymno)
The church of Agia Varvara is built in the architectural style of free cross with dome. It was erected in 1885 at the site of an older church dating back to 1663, which was also dedicated to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of Rethymno. During the Ottoman era, the church was converted into a bathhouse […]
