Chania Tour - visiting the Monastery of Agia Triada in Crete, Greece (Friday, October 11th 2013)
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CHANIA Port of Call for Navigator of the Seas cruise ship docked in Souda Bay actually - in sunny Crete, Greece
Friday morning (October 11, 2013), we had a TAXI waiting for us in Souda Bay -- pre-scheduled for a day tour (at 30 EURO/hour standard rate). Mano was our driver for the day!
First STOP -- enjoyed a beautiful sunrise and views of our RCI cruise ship from the Souda Bay War Cemetery (British Commonwealth War Cemetery) -- located approximately 5 km east from the center of Chania (Xania).
Next STOP --
The Monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) -- or Tzagarolon Monastery as it is also known -- is one of the most impressive monasteries you will see in Crete.
The Monastery of Agia Triada is located on the Akrotiri Peninsula, north of Chania Prefecture.
It is 15 kilometres from Chania; close to the equally famous Monastery of Gouverneto.
Once again, we were the first to arrive (before the large tour bus caught up to us as their passengers did when we were leaving the Suda Bay Cemetery earlier that Friday morning).
As soon as you enter the gate, you will see the wells and stairs adorned with bougainvillea, oleander and other seasonal flowers, adding a lovely accent to the complex.
This may be one of the few Cretan monasteries where the inner courtyard is so beautiful and well cared for.
The west wing of the monastery is a three-story building and includes vaulted storerooms where the wine and olive oil were once kept, while most of the courtyard is taken up by a large cistern which was used to collect rainwater from the surrounding buildings.
The Monastery of Agia Triada has a distinctive façade with Doric columns, but the elements of Renaissance architecture reminded us that the monastery was built by the Cretan monks Ieremias and Lavrentios (of the Venetian Orthodox Tzagarolos family).
By Orthodox Church tradition, the Patriarch has the right, when a monastery is founded in his jurisdiction, to send a cross which is placed in the foundations and establishes its direct dependence on him.
Monastery of Agia Triada opening hours:
8 a.m. to sunset
Winter :8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then 4 p.m. to sunset
Gentle REMINDER:
Please make sure you are decently dressed when visiting the monastery.
The Monastery of Agia Triada Tzagarolon was built in 1634, on the site of a small church dedicated to the Holy Apostles.
The monastery supports schools in Chania, and a seminary has operated within the monastery itself since 1892.
We visited the monastery church and complex and then wandered round the area for a while.
NOT to be missed -- the large exhibition of woodcarvings and icons in the monastery's Museum.
Inside the complex there was an olive press and a cellar for the wine produced by the monastery, while on the south side is the monastery library, formerly the Abbot's Room.
In recent years the Monastery of Agia Triada Tzagarolon has developed the systematic cultivation of organic vines and olives, and produces excellent wine, tsikoudia (raki), olive oil, honey, vinegar and olive oil soap.
The monastery produces 20 tonnes of organic virgin olive oil per year. It has won international prizes and is mainly sold abroad.
The following wines are produced: dry red Cabernet, dry red Fokiano Romeiko, dry red Merlot, dry white Trebiano
Naturally, all the products of Agia Triada are available for sale from the monastery shop.
We find the Monastery to be a lovely, peaceful and pretty impressive place - certainly worth a visit!
11 pics by OCP
Pefki gorge on Crete Greece
Pefki gorge on Crete: Walking in the area of the Pefki gorge on Crete: Sometimes it seems that all the nice sights on Crete are on the north and west of the island. This could not be further from the truth, because East Crete also has a large number of beautiful places to visit. For example, you can go walking in the area of the Pefki gorge on Crete, which is on the southeast coast. The gorge and the village of Pefki owe the name to the many pine trees in the area. A special phenomenon, because the south coast of Crete has a very dry and warm climate.
The walk through the gorge starts at the eponymous picturesque village of Pefki via an old stone path. This kalderimi leads to the water mill of Ilias. This is one of the oldest existing water mills, which functioned until the beginning of 1920. The mill was used for grinding grain and pressing olives for oil. Around 1920 the water mill was abandoned, because the water flow for the operation of the mill was not sufficient. Immediately after the Ilias water mill is the entrance to the Pefki gorge.
Pefki gorge on Crete: Initially, the path does not pass through the gorge, but alongside it. After 700-800 meters the path descends to the riverbed in the gorge. The gorge is overgrown with tall pine trees, plane trees, carob trees, colourful oleanders, and fragrant bushes. There are also impressive white rock formations on the sides with a height of more than 100 meters. The striking contrasts with the variety of colour combinations make this piece of nature unique to Southeast Crete.
E4 walking path on Crete: The route through the gorge is generally via a clearly marked path. This is part of the E4, the European long-distance path. Parts of the path go through the riverbed in the gorge, sometimes via the sides. At the exit of the gorge to the south is a well with clean drinking water, wonderful to cool down and fill a bottle of water.
Volakas tou Sarakinou at Aspros Potamos: The exit of the gorge is not near the sea, but in the area Pisokaminos, close to the village of Aspros Potamos. There is a large rock called Volakas tou Sarakinou (Saracen’s rock). According to legend, a Saracen pirate hid himself there after he was left behind on Crete. On the rock you will notice small, egg-sized pebbles. This has given rise to various stories and theories. The locals say that this is from the time of war and hardship. Children passing here threw stones on the rock. If these remained on the rock, then there was food at home. When the stones rolled away again, there was nothing to eat at home.
Makrigialos Crete: At a short distance from the Saracen rock is the village of Aspros Potamos (White River), where the asphalt road continues to Makrigialos or else back to the village of Pefki. Makrigialos is a fairly large village on the southeast coast of Crete. With beautiful long beaches this is a wonderful place to recover from the walk. Makrigialos was initially a small port without roads in the 1950s, but has experienced strong growth. Today it is a tourist destination in the region of Southeast Crete and you can find everything from a place to sleep to a beachside restaurant.
Walking in East Crete: In addition to the many walks we organize in the central and western part of Crete, we also go with our guests to East Crete. A part of the European walking route E4 runs all over the island and there are also beautiful walks in the east. The Pefki gorge is just an example of this. Please read more about the many options we offer, such as the multi-day hikes on the E4 in Crete. Besides the E4 walking path there are also many other beautiful areas for walking. Should you have questions or specific wishes, you can contact us anytime.
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ΑΝΕΠΡΟΚΟΠΟΙ REUNION 2012 - ΠΙΚΡΟΔΑΦΝΗ
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