Gouverneto Monastery (Moni Gouvernetou), one of the oldest monasteries in Crete, in Akrotiri Peninsula, Chania Prefecture.
Gouverneto Monastery (Moni Gouvernetou) is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete, as it was built in 1537. Gouverneto Monastery, or Our Lady of the Angels as it is also known, is on the Akrotiri Peninsula, about 4 km from Agia Triada Monastery, or 19 km north of Chania Gouverneto Monastery resembles a castle, with towers which served to defend it from raiders. The outside of the monastery in particular reveals strong Venetian influences: it looks like a Venetian fortress, measuring 40 m x 50 m, with 50 monks’ cells on two floors, a tower in each of the four corners, and special embrasures or loopholes in the walls. Only two of the towers are preserved today, but you can see the remains of the other two from the courtyard. The monastery church is dedicated to the Virgin, which is why Gouverneto Monastery is also known as Our Lady of the Angels. The most interesting and impressive features are the monsters carved in relief on the front of the church. The style is also quite unusual, influenced by the Venetian Renaissance and Baroque. Work on the church began in the Venetian period but was interrupted due to the Turkish invasion and the prohibitions they imposed. It took many years for the church to be completed, with special permission from the Turkish conquerors. Next to the church is a chapel dedicated to the founder of the monastery, St John the Hermit, whose cave is in the nearby Avlaki Gorge. At the side of the church there is also another chapel dedicated to the Ten Saints of Crete. Inside the monastery is a tiny museum of ecclesiastical works and other precious relics. Gouverneto Monastery was built in 1537 and prospered, acquiring great influence in the area and a vast amount of property. The 1637 census, shortly before the Turkish invasion, recorded 60 monks living in Gouverneto Monastery, making it one of the largest in Crete.
Size: 5618px × 3746px
Location: Akrotiri Peninsula, Chania prefecture, Crete island, Greece, Europe
Photo credit: © Hercules Milas / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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