Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

According to tradition, the monastery of Monsalud was founded in 1140 with the support of Alfonso VII of León, having as a precedent an earlier settlement from 1138. The first document mentioning this monastery is dated 1167, when the house was already fully operational.

It is a Franciscan Monastery near Orebic built at the end of the 16th century in the Gothic-Renaissance style. It is situated on a cliff, about 152 meters above sea level. This privileged position makes the view from the Orebic Monastery a marvel to behold. In the past, sailors had the tradition of ringing their ship sirens three times when passing near the monastery, to which the Franciscans responded with three rings of bells.

Paleokastritsa is one of the oldest monasteries on the island of Corfu, dating back to 1225.

The monastery of Panagia Kera Elousa was founded in the 11th century. Its former catholicon has three naves, dedicated to Saint Charalambos, the Dormitios of Theotokos and Saint Fanourios. The monastery was abandoned in 1894 and its church is currently used as the local cemetery church. It is very close to the Archaeological Site of Kitharida.

The monastery Panagia Kera Kardiotissa is a historic place of worship that has played an important role in Crete since its foundation in 1333. The monastery was dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin Kardiotissa, a wooden icon said to perform miracles. It currently operates as a nunnery.

The monastery of Panagia Lygia was built at the end of the 19th century, next to a spring in the surroundings of Stavrochori. It is dedicated to Zoodchos Pigi (Life Giving Spring).

Monastery of Panagia Molyvdoskepastos is a Greek Orthodox monastery founded in the 7th century close to the Greek-Albanian border.

The monastery of Prodromos or Monastery of St. John the Baptist was built in the early sixteenth century. The building was severely damaged during the siege of the island by the Ottomans in 1822. The frescoes date from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The monastery of Profitis Ilias is located on the highest point of the island and was probably founded in the 15th century. The current monastery dates from the 19th century, as are the oldest frescoes still visible. The monastery of Profitis Ilias is one of the seven monasteries of Ioannina Island.

The monastery of Roussanou is a women's monastery probably founded in the 16th century. The monastery declined in the 19th century and became a hermitage of the Varlaam monastery. The monastery has the peculiarity of occupying the entire plateau on top of the rock where it is located. It is one of the six monasteries that continue to be active in the Meteora and have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.