Toplou Monastery

Toplou Monastery tickets: which one to buy

Toplou Monastery stands in a remote landscape in the north-east of Crete, about fifteen kilometres east of the town of Sitia, and a small admission is charged for the monastery museum. It is one of the most important monasteries in Crete, and it is known for its icon of the Lord, Thou Art Great, and for its wine, olive oil and raki, produced on the monastery's estates and sold in its shop.

Most visitors drive there, as public transport is limited, and combine the monastery with Vai Beach, famous for its palm forest, and the Minoan palace of Zakros. The road passes through a barren, windswept landscape with views of the sea. The monastery is active, with a small community of monks, and visitors should dress modestly. The shop and winery can be visited, with tastings. The monastery shop accepts cards and sells bottles for travel.

Visiting Toplou Monastery: what to see

The monastery was founded in the fourteenth or fifteenth century, dedicated to the Virgin, and it was fortified against pirates, with thick walls and a tower. Its name comes from the Turkish word for cannon, because it once had a cannon for defence. The monastery was damaged by an earthquake, sacked by pirates and rebuilt by the Venetians, and it later played a role in the Cretan struggles against Ottoman rule and in the resistance during the Second World War, when the monks hid a radio transmitter for the Allies. The church holds an icon painted by Ioannis Kornaros in 1770, the Lord, Thou Art Great, a masterpiece of Cretan art containing sixty-one miniature scenes from the Bible, each illustrating a verse of a prayer.

The monastery museum displays icons, manuscripts, engravings and weapons. The courtyard has arcades and a fountain. The monastery's bell tower rises above the entrance, decorated with carved stonework. The katholikon, the main church, has two naves and holds old icons. The museum's collection includes engravings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and Byzantine icons. The monastery's olive oil and wines are produced using organic methods. The courtyard's stone well and arches create a peaceful atmosphere. A memorial commemorates the monks and villagers executed by German forces in the war. The monastery also runs a wind farm on its lands.

Toplou Monastery opening hours and the best time to go

The monastery is open daily, closing for a few hours in the early afternoon. Summer is hot and windy in eastern Crete, and early morning or late afternoon visits are the most comfortable. Spring, when the hills are green and flowers bloom, and autumn are the best seasons. The feast of the Virgin in August brings pilgrims. Vai Beach, about twenty minutes away, is crowded in summer, and swimming in the morning is best. Allow about forty-five minutes for the monastery and museum, and combine the visit with Vai Beach and a wine tasting. Sitia, the nearest town, has a small archaeological museum and a harbour lined with tavernas.