Legendary Monastery Hike Chania Crete - Katholiko and Gouverneto Monasteries

Описание: Katholiko Monastery is one of Crete's hidden treasures, and it's not too far from the popular Chania airport on the Akrotiri peninsula. Estimated to be about one thousand years old, the hike down to this monastery provides some impressive views of the gorge where Katholiko is built - and some sweet sites of the Mediterranean water into which we take a cold dip.

The journey begins with a mountain drive to the Gouverneto Monastery, not too far from the Chania airport, taking a gander at the awesome landscape along the way to one of Crete's oldest monasteries.

Once arriving at Gouverneto Monastery, we stroll through the historic grounds and head inside for a look at some relics of the Greek Orthodox Church being held inside the refurbished compound.

The next phase takes us out the back gate of the compound for a rocky hike down the mountainside before arriving at a very old abandoned harbour for a dip in the crystal-clear but oh-so-refreshing Mediterranean Sea.

On the way back we come across the thousand-year-old Katholiko Monastery, one-time home of St. John the Hermit. Katholiko would be the oldest Monastery in Crete at roughly 1400 years old, but it's thought that much of its structure was actually built in the 1500s or so.

Regardless, built into the side of a mountain in the Avlaki Gorge on the Akrotiri Peninsula, this one takes your breath away. We stroll through the grounds of Katholiko, leaving a donation for the Monks after lighting a candle, then ringing the bell - just because it was so tempting.

An historic day was had and this hike is one that anyone staying near the Chania airport can enjoy.

Enjoy the video, and I hope you appreciate these sites and the history as much as we did!!

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