GOUVERNETO MONASTERY OR LADY OF ANGELS

One of the oldest monasteries in Crete, on the edge of a cliff.

The monastery of Gouverneto is located in the Akrotiri peninsula, 19 kilometres northern of Chania and 4 km from the monastery of Agia Triada. The visitors should follow the road to Chania’s airport and then follow the signs for the monastery of Agia Triada.

Gouverneto Monastery or Lady of Angels is one of the oldest monasteries of Crete and constitutes a sample of Orthodox monastic architecture. It was built in 1537 in an altitude of 260 meters by monks of the Catholic church that abandoned the place because of piracy.
Its construction started during the Venetian period, but the works were interrupted during the invasion of Turks. The completion of the temple was achieved after many years and with a special authorization granted by the Turks.

Externally, it looks like a Venetian fortress and has towers in its four corners with embrasures, Unfortunately, only two of them have survived up to this day. It has dimensions 40 x 50 metres and allocates 50 cells in two floors. The church of Eisodion of Theotokos or Lady of Angels is rectangular with dome and allocates columns and sculptural decor that reminds us of Italian technique.

There are two chapels, Agii Deka and Agios Ioannis o Ksenos. The latter is dedicated to the founder of the monastery. There is a very small museum in the monastery that hosts works of ecclesiastical art and other precious relics.

Municipal Unit: Akrotiri
Working hours: Monday-Tuesday-Thursday: 09.00 – 12.00 and 17.00 – 19.00, Weekends: 09.00-11.00 and 17.00 – 20.00
Entrance: 2.5€ (with appropriate clothes /the entrance is not allowed for groups)
Tel.: +30 28210 63319

READ MORE READ LESS