Monasteries in Rethymnon That You Will Enjoy Visiting

How to visit the most important monasteries in Rethymnon. Practical information to visit, opening hours, what to see and more information.

Scattered through its mountains and valleys, Rethymnon is a region sheltering important monasteries and religious historical sites. These now serene spiritual spaces, in the past often functioned as centers where locals organized and assembled with the purpose of freeing the island from the Ottoman Empire.

These monasteries, that have stood resilient through time, date back centuries, thus providing a glimpse into Crete’s religious past. They also combine unique expressions of Byzantine art, Cretan Rennaisance, and traditional Cretan architecture. To make them even more interesting, they are often surrounded by a breathtaking landscape, making them even more attractive to visitors.

Monasteries in Rethymnon

If you’re seeking a peaceful day trip or want to learn more about the island’s history and cultural heritage, these monasteries in Rethymnon will be well worth the visit. Let’s start by describing the two most important monasteries in Rethymnon, Arkadi and Preveli. Later below, you can also read about other smaller monasteries of remarkable interest and beauty.

Arkadi Monastery

📍 35.310045 N, 24.629020 E
ℹ️ Summer (Apr-Oct) 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Winter (Nov–Mar) 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
€ 3 (full ticket), free for residents.

It’s yet to be discovered when the Holy Monastery of Arkadi was built. According to tradition, it dates back to the 5th century and might have been founded by the Byzantine emperor Arcadius.

Other sources state that its name is instead related to a monk since it’s not odd that Cretan monasteries carry the name of a founding monk.

ARKADI IN OTTOMAN TIMES
When Crete fell under Ottoman control (around 1648), the Turks raided Arkadi and the monks escaped. After months of negotiations and pledging allegiance to the rulers, the monks were allowed to return and rebuild the damaged buildings.

Arkadi housed about 100 monks within its walls and an additional 200 in the surrounding areas, making it the most prosperous monastery in Crete. The monks’ efforts in cultivating the land and producing olive oil and wine were a testament to their dedication and the monastery’s success.

However, different sources imply that the monastery slowly declined due to the taxes imposed by the Ottomans.

This was not an isolated situation, but the case in most Cretan monasteries, which -together with other reasons- urged Cretans to rebel. By 1866, Arkadi had turned into a center for the Cretan revolution. While the Turks vandalized the area, many villagers found in Arkadi a place where to hide. 

ARKADI HOLOCAUST
As the monastery was rebelling against the Ottomans, an army of over 15,000 Turkish soldiers surrounded the building, demanding unconditional surrender. The monastery didn’t give in and fired back as a reply. It didn’t take long for the Ottomans to assault the building.

The battle lasted for days, and, outnumbered by the Turks, the rebels were not able to defend themselves anymore. The Turks captured the building, set it on fire, and killed many Cretans. They went on to massacre the insurgents hidden in the refectory while women and children hid in the powder room, where they set the barrels of powder on fire, making the room explode. Not only the Cretan refugees died, but also several Turks.

>> RELATED ARTICLE
– Complete Guide to Visit Arkadi Monastery

AFTER THE HOLOCAUST
Although Crete did not gain independence after these events, they caught the international community’s attention. Crete’s holocaust didn’t go unnoticed and is an important landmark on the island’s path to independence, which it finally gained in 1898.

THE BUILDING
The monastery is surrounded by a continuous perimeter of defensive walls that give the impression of a fortress. Arkadi’s church is one of Crete’s most beautiful religious buildings, with distinctive Renaissance influences. It is in the center of Arkadi’s courtyard and dates back to the 16th century. Don’t miss the ancient tree in the middle of the courtyard. It still hosts an iron bullet from the days of the Ottoman siege.

The museum displays a rich collection of icons and a few special rooms with exhibits related to the Cretan Revolt. The Refectory is another place worth a visit since trances of the fight can still be seen on the walls and the furniture.

Outside the monastery, behind the parking lot, check out the Ossuary. It gathers the remains of those who perished in the massacre.

How to Visit Arkadi Monastery

We’ve visited Arkadi a few times already. Our first visit was part of an organized tour when we were still not living on the island. I strongly recommend you check out this full-day tour that also takes you to Eleftherna, Melidoni Cave, and Margarites.

That said, it’s fairly easy to visit Arkadi. It does not require hours of driving (or bus), especially if you stay in Rethymnon.

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Preveli Monastery

📍 35.157750 N, 24.456364 E
ℹ️ Summer (Apr-Oct) 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Winter (Nov–Mar) 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – In summer, the monastery closes from 1.30 to 3.30 p.m.)
€ 2.5 (full ticket), free for residents.

>> REMEMBER: The Preveli complex is formed by two different monasteries, Kato Monastiri (the lower monastery, today in ruins) and Piso Monastiri (the rear monastery), which is open to the public.

The Holy Monastery of Preveli’s founding date is also uncertain. However, it’s be from the Venetian (1205-1669). Over the centuries, Preveli became a religious point of reference for the Cretan community and a center where locals would meet.

During the continuous revolutions against the Ottomans, the main abbot was part of a secret revolutionary group that organized and financed the rebel units against the Turks. The Ottoman response was the destruction of Preveli. The monks were rescued on time and fought different battles for freedom. 

Preveli always fought for the Cretan cause, helping the different revolutionary committees even after the Holocaust in Arkadi and offering shelter to almost 200 rebels. An Ottoman army of over 8.000 men set the nearby villages and the Lower Monastery on fire in 1867. The Rear Monastery was saved from the destruction and remain active even after the end of the Ottoman rule. 

>> RELATED ARTICLE
– Complete Guide to Preveli Monastery

PREVELI MONASTERY IN WWII
Preveli played a key role during the Battle of Crete (1941) against the invading German forces. It gave supplies to the Allies during the battles held in the region and, later on, it was a shelter for the Allied soldiers that remained in Crete.

German soldiers attacked the Lower Monastery, and although some monks managed to escape, the Nazis destroyed much of the building, furniture, and personal objects belonging to the monks. The monks remaining in the monastery underwent heavy interrogation and were then imprisoned in the Firkas Fortress (Chania).

PREVELI’S BENEDICTION CROSS
The Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) of Preveli has a long history. It came from Constantinople and was carried on the frontline of the battles of Crete. The cross was lost and then found in battle against the Turks. The German soldiers removed it, but they couldn’t manage to take it to their country.

MEMORIAL
Preveli Memorial was built on the monastery’s lands to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Crete. It’s dedicated to the Resistance of the Cretan Population and Peace and stands facing the Libyan Sea, less than 2 km from the monastery.

THE BUILDING
The monastery was originally formed by two main buildings, the Lower Monastery of Saint John the Baptist and the Rear Monastery of Saint John the Theologian (today active).

The Lower Monastery has an irregular plant, with several buildings and a courtyard. Saint John’s church is in the center of the yard. The church (Katholikon) of the Lower Monastery has one nave, a domed roof, and a tower with two bells.

The Rear Monastery stands at the foot of a mountain overlooking the sea. It has a small cemetery for the monks, a chapel, and an ossuary. The church (Katholikon) stands in the courtyard’s center with a simple facade. The Museum in the Rear Monastery hosts icons saved from various attacks, religious vestments, and a collection of seals. 

How to Visit Moni Preveli

You can visit the monastery independently or by joining an organized tour. If you’re also interested in seeing the nearby palm tree beach or other activities in the mountains of Rethymnon, you can head here for some great tours.

• Preveli is 36 km from Rethymnon city (on the northern coast). Drive south along the Rethimou-Agias Galinis road, passing through Kouraliotiko Gorge, and then take the road Koxaron-Moni Prevelis. >>> CHECK THE MAP HERE

• If you’re traveling from the southern village of Plakias, you’ll drive for just 20 minutes. The best road is Koxaron-Moni Prevelis. >>> CHECK THE MAP HERE

Arkadi Monastery, Crete’s most renowned, stands out for its fortified architecture and role as a symbol of resistance after the 1866 Ottoman siege. Preveli, is another key historic monastery in the Rethymnon. However, there are many more significant monasteries you can see, including Agia Irini, Roustika, Vossakos, and other, revealing the importance these religious centers had in the region’s life and history. These are other monasteries worth visiting in Rethymnon.

Agia Irini Monastery

📍 35.340114 N, 24.490360 E
ℹ️ 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Agia Irini is a nunnery about 5 km south of Rethymnon that was built around 1362, making it one of the oldest monasteries on the island. It stands at 260 meters asl, at the foot of Mount Vrysina. The most peculiar trait of the regilious building is that it was built on a rock. The monasgtery looks like a fortress since it has imposing surrounding walls for protection.

As many other monasteries in Crete, this particular place was attacked and destroyed during the Cretan revolution (1866). It remained closed for a long period, and then restored and reopened in 1989.

Inside Agia Irini you can explore the church (newer than the rest of the building) dedicated to Saint Irene, a small chapel, the refectory, and a tiny museum. The small number of nuns that today live in the premises take care of painting (religious icons), weaving and embroidery workshops that are open to the visitors. You can also visit an ancient olive mill.  There is also an ancient church aoutside the courtyard that is yet to be restored.

Saint Gideon Monastery (Karkalou Monastery – Margarites)

📍 35.340448 N, 24.688856 E

Dedicated to Christ Savior and Saint Gideon, this monastery in Margarites dates back to the late 15th century. It was founded by a Venetian family and originally served as a nunnery.

Legend has it that during the Ottoman occupation, the nuns fled to a nearby cave when Turks approached the monastery, seeking to kill them and plunder the site. According to local tradition, a miraculous white cloud concealed the cave entrance, saving the nuns from being found.

During the Ottoman era, it transitioned into a male monastery and became a dependency of the Monastery of Karakalou, on Mount Athos, mainland Crete. The monastery remained abandoned for a long period, but it was later restored and now is open to visitors.

Profitis Ilias Monastery (Roustikas)

📍 35.284346 N, 24.374760 E

Just 20 kilometers from Rethymnon, Profitis Ilias Monastery stands on a rocky hill at the end of Roustikas village and is one of the most historic monasteries in the region. Once you access an imposing gate, you find yourself inside a large courtyard of the monastery and the three-aisle basilica, dedicated to the Holy Trinity and Prophet Elias, patron of the monastery and featuring exceptional wood carvings and icons.

The church hosts a belfry that, together with that of the Arkadi Monastery, are the only Venetian bell towers that have survived in Crete. As with many other monasteries in the region, the founding date remains uncertain but there’s written proof that the monastery already existed at least from the beginning of the 17th century. Besides, two different inscriptions from the Venetian rule have been preserved in the building, the oldest of them dating from 1637.

Diskouri Monastery

📍 35.318444 N, 24.815981 E

Located in the Mylopotamos area and around 43 km from Rethymnon town, not far from the small Azos village. Diskouri is one of the oldest monasteries on the island believed to have been built on top of an ancient temple. This is another Cretan monastery built as a fortress, featuring a church dedicated to Agios Giorgos known for the ancient icon of the saint.

The monastery was a centre of revolutionary activities against the Ottoman Empire, for that resason, the Turks destroyed the building back in 1821, while an earthquake in 1856 caused even more damage to the structure. It also played a significant role during the revolution (1866-1869) which led the Ottomans to set the remains of the building on fire.

The monastery was subsequently repaired in recent times. Only a few meters from the monastery, you can also visit an ancient Byzantine chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist which proves the importance this religious center would have in the past.

Vossakos Monastery (Timios Stavros)

📍 35.386193 N, 24.841977 E

Known as the Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) Monastery, or Vossakos Monastery, this religious building is located around 50 km from Rerhymnon. Although its founding date is uncertain, the earliest written reference dates from 1629. The monastery flourished from the end of the Venetian times but -like many other monasteries and churches- it was destroyed by the Turks in 1821, during the Greek War of Independence

Evedn when monks and Cretan rebles used the premises in the years leading to the Cretan Revolution (1866), the monastery suffered further destruction by the Ottomans and it was finally abandoned in 1955.

The building was restored in the late nineties and is now open for visits. It features an ancient Venetian fountain from 1673 but the complex also has buildings from other periods, two courtyards, and three different levels. Another Cretan monastery built as a fortress, Vossakos’ katholikon (main temple) is dedicated to the Holy Cross.

Exploring the monasteries of Rethymnon is a journey through Crete’s spiritual legacy and artistry, that has shaped the region for centuries. They provide a glimpse into the difficult years of foreign occcupation and offer a sense of connection with the most intimate aspect of the island. Are you visiting Rethymnon’s monasteries soon?

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Stunning Monasteries in Rethymnon, Crete

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