Religious Monuments of Mirabello

The province of Mirabello hosted small monasteries with the greatest density than any other region of Crete. It is characteristic that in the small area of Upper (Ano) Mirabello, i.e. the mountainous area north of Neapolis, over 20 small monasteries were developed.

Unlike other areas of Crete, where asceticism was developed in caves, here we meet mostly small monasteries where 2-3 monks lived together. Indeed, many current settlements in Ano Mirabello were originally developed around monasteries. Almost all monasteries today do not operate, but their churches have survived.

St. George Selinaris monastery

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The male monastery of Saint George Selinaris is built in the heart of the gorge Selinari, near Vrachasi village and Neapolis. Next to the monastery passes the National Road connecting Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos, which is the main reason why Selinaris receives many visitors daily.

Panagia Kera church at Kritsa

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One of the most popular Byzantine monuments in Crete (13th- 14th A.D.) is located in Logari, one kilometre east of Kritsa. This triple-nave Byzantine church is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, to Saint Anthony and Saint Anna. It is adorned with superb wall paintings on particular themes like the representation of Saint Anna, other icons of the saints, and the fourteen scenes depicting the secret life of the Virgin Mary.

Koufi Petra Monastery near Neapolis

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The monastery of the Virgin Mary «of the hollow stone» (Greek: Panagia Koufis Petras) is dedicated to the Annunciation. It is located west of Kremasta Monastery and at a short distance from Neapolis.

Kremasta Monastery near Neapolis

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The Monastery of Kremasti or Kremasta is located south of Neapolis town, on the road connecting the town to the village Vrisses, at a position overlooking Neapolis. It is built with fort architecture on a steep wooded hillside of Mount Kavalaras and gives the impression that it’s hanging, a phenomenon to which the monastery owes its name (Kremasti means hanging).

Church of Saint Nicholas at Agios Nikolaos (Ormos)

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The Early Byzantine Chapel of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the Greek sailors, has given its name to the entire city (Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas in Greek). The chapel was built on the edge of Cape Nissi by Katholiko beach, after the seventh century and is one of the oldest ones in Crete.

Areti Monastery in Karydi

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The Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Areti is located next to the village Karydi (close to Neapolis) in a dry and isolated area of Mirabello province. Along with the neighboring Kardamoutsa monastery, they were the most important monasteries of the area (This area has the most monasteries than any other place in Crete).

Saint George Monastery in Vrachasi

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The monastery of Agios Georgios in Vrachasi is located 1km southwest of the village Vrachasi, near Neapolis. The monastery has actively participated in the revolutionary movements against the Turks, during which it suffered tremendous damages.

Panagia Vrefotrofos Temple at Agios Nikolaos

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The church of the Virgin ‘Panagia Vrefotrofos’ (the protector of infants) is located in the center of the city of Agios Nikolaos, near the sea. It's construction dates back from the 12th century and it bears frescoes of the 14th century.

Mirabelo

Religious Monuments of Mirabello

St. George Selinaris monastery

Panagia Kera church at Kritsa

Koufi Petra Monastery near Neapolis

Kremasta Monastery near Neapolis

Church of Saint Nicholas at Agios Nikolaos (Ormos)

Areti Monastery in Karydi

Saint George Monastery in Vrachasi

Panagia Vrefotrofos Temple at Agios Nikolaos

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