Chrisoskalitissa Monastery

Located just a few kilometres from Elafonisi beach, Chrisoskalitissa is a picturesque monastery with a timeless charm. The monastery is built on a hill overlooking the rugged coastline of the area, providing great view to the southwestern sea of Crete.

The long name “Chrisoskalitissa” is in Greek the short composite word for “Virgin of the Golden Stair”. According to the legend, when the Ottomans conquered Crete, the nuns hid the golden treasures of the monastery underneath a stair in the long staircase in its entrance, to protect them from the invading army. The “golden stair”, as it was called, gave its name to the monastery.

The monastery features excellent, centuries-old architecture, and is one of the landmarks of Southwest Crete. It is also a historic monastery, as its name has been associated with the Cretan struggle for independence through the centuries.

When visiting the small church inside the monastery, don’t forget to admire the hagiography of “Kimisis tis Theotokou” (“Assumption of Mary”), as it is estimated that it was created 1.000 years ago.