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Crete TOURnet: Home Crete Guide Sights in Crete Byzantine Sights Gorgoliani Monastery in Kato Asites

Gorgoliani Monastery in Kato Asites

The fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
The fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
The Gorgoliani Monastery near the village, has a Venetian fountain dated 1617. The fountain had a beautiful marble representation of a lion's head which was stolen in 1991. The monastery was probably built during the last years of the Venetian occupation of Crete; the Turks destroyed it three times and each time it was rebuilt. The monastery played an important role in the rebellions because of its position in the mountains. Revolutionary assemblies were frequently held in the monastery. The famous Captain Mastrachas was killed near the monastery in 1868 and is buried in the monastery. The church of the monastery is a double-aisle basilica dedicated to Agios Georgios and Agios Nikolaos. The name of the monastery probably comes from Gorgo-eleimon which means swiftly merciful.

Photos of Gorgoliani Monastery in Kato Asites:


A detail of the fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
A detail of the fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
The fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
The fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
The church of the Gorgoliani Monastery
The church of the Gorgoliani Monastery
A relief dated 1617 in the church of Gorgoliani Monastery
A relief dated 1617 in the church of Gorgoliani Monastery
A window of the church of Gorgoliani Monastery
A window of the church of Gorgoliani Monastery
The fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
The fountain in the Gorgoliani Monastery
 
Visit the area of the sight: Kato Asites