This church dates back to the middle of the 15th century. The name Paraportiani comes from the word ‘porta’, which means ‘door’. Originally, the church was built next to the entrance of a Medieval castle, which has been destroyed. The building actually consists of a group of smaller churches into one. Because they were completed over time, you can find a mixture of different styles like Byzantine, Traditional and Western.
This is one of the few remaining post-Byzantine churches on the island of Mykonos.
The monastery was established in the 18th century as a nunnery . It is located on top of a hill, next to the remains of the Gizi castle, which explains its current name (paleokastro is Greek for old "castle").
This 14th-century monastery in Ano Mera is dedicated to Panagia Tourliani, the patroness of Mykonos island, and is a popular destination for pilgrims since the 16th century.
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