Arkadi Monastery is one of the most beautiful examples of Venetian architecture in Crete. Even if you don't plan on exploring this island extensively, it's worth planning a day trip to see this place. It will captivate you with its beauty, at the same time so deeply marked by the Cretans' fight for freedom, and will help you better understand the inhabitants of this island, their character and history.

The history of the monastery

The exact origins of the monastery are not known, although there are many legends about them, even from the 1st-2nd century! However, the first documented writings date the construction of the original temple only to the 14th century. Over time, it turned into one of the largest and richest monasteries in Crete, and more importantly it became a symbol of the struggle for Greek independence.

In 1866, an uprising against the Turks broke out, during which the monastery and its walls were heavily shelled. Bullet marks can be seen not only in walls but also in tree trunks. The attack ended with an explosion caused by one of the Cretan defenders, when Turkish soldiers got inside through a breach in the wall. This event quickly made its way around the world as the mass suicide of the Greeks in defense of their freedom.

The location and buildings of the monastery

Arkadi Monastery is approximately 30 km from Rethymnon and is situated on a small hill. There are no other buildings around the complex, therefore there is a specific silence and an atmosphere conducive to contemplation. From a distance, the whole thing looks like a Mexican pueblo, due to its sandy square buildings, low walls and a high bell tower. At the entrance to the order, there is the most recognizable facade of the chapel of St. Constantine and St. Helena, which is characterized by many elements of the Baroque style. The present appearance of the complex is due to the reconstruction from the 18th century, at the end of the Venetian rule - a golden period for Cretan architecture and culture.

How to get to the monastery

The easiest way to reach Arkadi from Rethymnon is by car, but you can also get there by bus, which runs 2-3 times a day. The journey takes no more than 40 minutes, and you can find the exact timetable HERE.

The best way to get to the monastery from Chania and Heraklion is also by car. The roads are not difficult and the mountain landscape in the last section is very picturesque. The journey from both places takes about 1.5 hours, but in the high season you must take into account increased road traffic, which can extend this time even to more than two hours.

Opening hours and ticket prices

Opening hours vary from month to month. You can check them on the official website of the complex HERE.

We visited the monastery in September when it is open from 9:00 to 19:00. Initially, we wanted to go there for the sunrise or sunset, but then we wouldn't have gone inside.

The ticket price is € 3.00 per person.

It is worth paying attention to:

➸ Western Doors - this is a construction from the 19th century, replacing the original one from the 17th century, demolished by the Turks a decade earlier.

➸ Church facade designed by Italian architects Sebastiano Serlio and Andrea Palladio.

➸ The abbot's residence, now functioning as a hospice.

➸ A dead tree that still has a bullet after the 1866 attack!

➸ The monks' cells, surrounded by a garden from the outside.

➸ The cloister with entrances to the monastic cells.

➸ The morgue with the remains of fallen defenders, formerly used as a mill.

Best time to visit

Although there is a lot of shade between the buildings, the heat can easily get into you, so I recommend visiting the monastery in the morning or in the afternoon. During the summer season, many coaches with tourists come here, however, during the pandemic, the only visitors were independent tourists who came to the site in their cars.

Do you have questions, do you want to share your opinion or impressions about this place? Please leave a comment or write me an email: altertonative@gmail.com ❤

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