Keras Kardiotissas Monastery

Keras Kardiotissas Monastery tickets: which one to buy

The Monastery of Panagia Kera Kardiotissa stands on the road up to the Lasithi Plateau in eastern Crete, about fifty kilometres from Heraklion, and entry is by a small admission fee. Most visitors stop here on the way to the Lasithi Plateau, with its windmills and farms, and to the Dikteon Cave, the mythical birthplace of Zeus, and day tours from Hersonissos, Malia and Heraklion usually combine all three.

Driving yourself allows time to explore the mountain villages. The monastery is a working convent with a few nuns, and visitors should dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered; wraps may be available at the gate. The road is winding but in good condition, and there is parking beside the monastery. A small shop sells icons, religious items and local products made by the nuns. Photography inside the church may be restricted, so ask the nun at the entrance.

Visiting Keras Kardiotissas Monastery: what to see

The monastery's church dates from the late twelfth or early thirteenth century, and the monastery takes its name from a famous icon of the Virgin, the Kardiotissa, meaning the one of the heart. According to legend, the icon was taken to Constantinople several times, and each time it miraculously returned to the monastery, even when chained to a marble column; the chain is displayed at the monastery as a symbol of the miracle. The original icon was eventually taken to Rome, where it is believed to be the image venerated in a church there, and a copy is kept here.

The church itself has three aisles and is decorated with frescoes from the fourteenth century, depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin and the life of Christ, which are among the finest in Crete. The courtyard is full of flowers and shaded by trees. The monastery museum displays icons, vestments and religious books, and the iconostasis in the church is carved and gilded. Pilgrims light candles before the copy of the miraculous icon and leave votive offerings in the form of small silver plaques.

Keras Kardiotissas Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily, closing for a few hours in the early afternoon on some days. Summer brings many tour groups on the way to Lasithi, and mornings are usually quieter. Spring is beautiful, with wildflowers and green hills, and autumn is pleasant for driving in the mountains.

The feast of the Nativity of the Virgin on 8 September is the monastery's main celebration, with a service and a festival that attracts pilgrims from across Crete. The Lasithi Plateau is cooler than the coast and can be cold in winter. Allow about half an hour for the monastery, and continue up to the plateau and the Dikteon Cave. The windmills of the Lasithi Plateau, some restored with white sails, are a short drive further up the road.