Places
Guverneto Monastery
The Guverneto Monastery is situated at the northeast end of Akrotiri, on a location full of lentisks, thyme, wild olive trees and carob trees. It is one of the oldest monasteries of Akrotiri. Guverneto was founded after the 11th century and destroyed by fire before 1765. The bloodiest pages of its history were written during […]
Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) Monastery
This is situated at Akrotiri, a location planted with olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees. Architecturally it is one of the most important examples of the Cretan Renaissance. According to tradition it was funded by brothers Jeremiah and Lorenzo of the old Venetian family of the Zagaroloi, who were monks in the nearby monastery of […]
St. Quiricus (Agios Kirikos or Ai Kirkos) at Lissos
About 3 km west of Sougia the city of Lissos flourished in Hellenistic and Roman years, until the early Byzantine period; there are traces of two basilicas that must have been built in these periods. The church of Mother Mary (Panagia) is built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica. The same is true […]
Churches at Sougia
The presence of at least three early Christian basilicas with exceptional mosaic floors from the 6th century indicates that the city existed during the first Byzantine period. It must have declined after the 7th century, but it is not known whether it was completely deserted. In any case, the church of St. Irene, dating back […]
Churches at Kakodiki
In this hamlet, which has probably existed since the 14th century, there is a church dedicated to Archangel Michael with mural icons and an inscription dating from 1420 and a church dedicated to Saint Isidore, near the neighbouring hamlet of Tzeneliana, again with mural decorations dating back to 1420.
Churches at Plemeniana
Near the hamlet there are traces of early Christian basilicas dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Within the walls of the Church of Christ the Saviour (Soter), parts of an old early Christian basilica have been incorporated; Inscriptions have been preserved, the oldest of which bears the year 1362. In St. George’s Church there […]
Churches at Kantanos
Kantanos flourished in the Hellenistic and Roman times as well as during the first Byzantine period, when it seemed to have played an important role, since it was the See of the Bishop who attended the Council of Chalkedon (Synod of Chalki) in 451. The long religious tradition of the territory is evidenced by traces […]