Moni Aretiou in Neapoli, Crete
Lasithi Churches & Monasteries - Moni Aretiou is a stunning monastery located in the charming settlement of Karydi, Neapoli, Crete. At an impressive altitude of 530m, this monastery was founded by Marco Papadopoulos - a nobleman between 1580 and 1596. Dedicated to the Holy Trinity, Moni Aretiou boasts of two courtyards and two entrances, with the outer courtyard featuring the winepress, warehouses, and stables while the inner courtyard houses the monk's chambers and water tanks. This historic monastery is recognized as one of the most breathtaking in Crete, with an added bonus of a cheese factory and mill. The single-nave barrel-vaulted church is another architectural marvel, complete with a pointed arch and a bell tower of hewn stone that dates back to 1618 according to legend. Besides the primary Catholic temple, there's a second temple devoted to Saint Lazarus, which was built during the Venetian era. Despite the looting and torching by the Turks after the 1821 revolution, Moni Aretiou was renovated in 1844 and reopened, with the process of maintenance beginning in 1991. Experience the magical charm of Moni Aretiou in Neapoli, Crete.
Gallery
