Monastery Palianis near Venerato
Paliani is a working nunnery at an altitude of 280 m near the villages of Avgeniki and Venerato, 20 km southwest of Heraklion. It stands east of the Venerato Gorge and is dedicated to the Assumption, celebrated on 15 August. Paliani is believed to be one of the oldest monasteries in Crete, although its exact foundation date is not known.
The monastery is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset every day. Most people come for one thing in the courtyard: a myrtle tree treated as a sacred object, which ties the site to a form of worship far older than the church around it.
The sacred myrtle tree
The myrtle tree grows in the churchyard and is associated with an icon of the Virgin Mary. It is worshipped as a relic of Minoan dendrolatry, the tree worship practised on Crete long before the monastery existed. That continuity is the reason the tree, rather than the church, is what Paliani is known for.
Where the name Paliani comes from
Two explanations are offered for the name. The usual one derives Paliani from Palia Moni, meaning Old Monastery. The other connects it to Apolonia, an ancient city that stood close to Venerato.
History of the monastery
Paliani was once a patriarchal monastery, and at various times it held vast wealth along with numerous dependencies, meaning smaller monasteries and churches under its control. That standing made it a target. During the Ottoman era the monastery was destroyed and the nuns were massacred.
Rebuilding followed quickly, and Paliani has since been counted among the wealthiest monasteries in Crete. The complex has changed a great deal over the centuries, so the buildings a visitor sees today are not the ones that stood before the Ottoman destruction.
The church and the grounds
The primary church is a basilica with three aisles, each with its own dedication and feast day. One aisle honours the Assumption on 15 August, the second the Three Hierarchs on 30 January, and the third St Panteleimon on 27 July. A separate small chapel is dedicated to the Holy Apostles and celebrates on 30 June.
Older material is visible all around the buildings. The main temple was initially supported by ancient Byzantine-style columns decorated with acanthus leaves, and fragments of them are scattered across the monastery grounds, together with marble pieces from the Byzantine period. The temple is now surrounded by the nuns’ cells and additional rooms, and parts of the fortress wall that once protected Paliani still stand.
The museum and the church of St John
Paliani runs a museum inside the complex. It holds icons, relics and a large number of books of historical and archaeological value. The monastery also owns the ancient Byzantine church of St John, which carries frescoes of the 14th century.
Things to do around Paliani
Five places lie within 7 km of the monastery, listed nearest first.
- Walk the Venerato Gorge, which starts 0.5 km west of the monastery.
- Taste at the Silva Daskalaki Winery, 2.1 km away in the same valley.
- Visit Ancient Rizinia, a hilltop city site 4.1 km from Paliani.
- See the Agios Thomas Roman tombs, cut into rock 5 km away.
- Continue to Saint George Gorgolainis Monastery, 5.1 km from the nunnery.
Other sites in the Heraklion foothills
Seven more sites lie on the roads south and east of Venerato. Each is a longer drive from the monastery, so they work as a second stop on a full day out.
- Agios Charalambos Gorge runs 5.1 km from the monastery.
- Agia Varvara sits 6.8 km south on the road towards the Messara.
- Monastery of St George Apanosifis stands 9.9 km away.
- Anemospilia sanctuary and the Jiouchtas peak sanctuary lie on Mount Jiouchtas above Archanes.
- Tourkogitonia Minoan Palace and the Fourni Minoan cemetery are both at Archanes, east of Paliani.
Getting to Paliani monastery
Drive 20 km southwest from Heraklion on the road towards Agia Varvara and turn off at Venerato, from where the monastery is signposted. The site sits at 280 m between Venerato and Avgeniki, so the last stretch is a short climb on a village road. A car is the practical way to arrive, and the same drive takes in Tylissos on the way back north.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Paliani monastery?
Paliani monastery is 20 km southwest of Heraklion, near the villages of Venerato and Avgeniki. It sits at 280 m, on the eastern side of the Venerato Gorge.
When is Paliani open?
The monastery is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset, every day. It is a working nunnery, so the cells and private rooms around the church are not part of the visit.
What is the sacred tree at Paliani?
A myrtle tree in the churchyard is venerated as a relic of Minoan tree worship. It is linked with an icon of the Virgin Mary, and it is the feature that draws most pilgrims to the monastery.
How old is Paliani monastery?
Paliani is believed to be one of the oldest monasteries in Crete, but its foundation date is unknown. Byzantine marble and columns with acanthus leaves survive in the grounds, and the monastery owns a Byzantine church of St John with 14th-century frescoes.
What are the feast days at Paliani?
The main celebration is the Assumption on 15 August. The other aisles of the basilica mark the Three Hierarchs on 30 January and St Panteleimon on 27 July, and the small chapel of the Holy Apostles celebrates on 30 June.
Location
Monastery Palianis near Venerato is located at Paliani Monastery near Venerato, in the Heraklion region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
