San Salvatore Monastery (Hotel)
San Salvatore Monastery is a historic complex dating from the 15th century, when Crete was under Venetian rule. The monastery was transformed into a hotel in
About this building
The monastery belonged to the Order of Friars Minor (formerly known as the "Observants"), which is one of the oldest branches of the Franciscan order. The order moved to the monastery of San Salvatore in 1453.
The monastery was originally outside the city walls of medieval Chania. In the 16th century, the San Salvatore bastion was built in this northwestern part of the old town of Chania, providing the monastery with a protective wall. The monastery used to host pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem.
During the Ottoman rule, the catholicon was transformed into the Topuo Aga Han mosque and a mihrab was erected. The cloister, garden, monk's cells and other commons areas of the monastery were given new uses.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery cloister began to function as a hotel. In 2016, after the restoration of the complex, the San Salvatore hotel was opened. The monastery is listed as a historical monument.
