Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Monastery · Chania, Creta
Mosteiro de Agia Triada Tzagarolon
17th-century monastery on the Akrotiri peninsula, 15 km from Chania, with a three‑domed church, a columned façade, an icon museum and on-site production of olive oil and wine.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Mosteiro de Agia Triada Tzagarolon
The monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) was founded in the early 17th century by the Tzagarolos brothers, from a Venetian family that converted to Orthodoxy, amid olive groves and vineyards on the Akrotiri peninsula. The church façade, bearing an inscription of 1631, mixes Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns in a Renaissance style rare in Crete. The church has a cruciform plan with three domes, and the bell tower dates to 1864.
The monastery is still active and is one of the island's most visited. A small museum houses icons from the 16th and 17th centuries, manuscripts and liturgical vestments, and the library contains rare books. The monks produce olive oil, wine and vinegar sold in the monastery shop, and the inner courtyard, with orange trees and bougainvillea, is a place of silence.
A few kilometres away is the monastery of Gouverneto, more austere, from which a trail leads to the Arkoudiotissa cave and the abandoned monastery of Katholiko. The two monasteries make a half‑day outing on the peninsula that can finish at Stavros beach.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 45 minutes to an hour; longer if you visit the shop and museum.
Best time
In the morning, when the monastery is quieter and light fills the courtyard. Avoid service times if you want to move around freely. In spring, from March to May, the fields around are green and in bloom.
How to get there
It's on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 15 km northeast of Chania and 4 km from the airport. By car it's roughly 25 minutes via the airport road, with signs for Moni Agias Triadas. There is no direct bus; taxi or a tour are the alternatives.
Tip
Dress with shoulders and knees covered; there are skirts and shawls at the entrance for those who need them. The monastery's olive oil makes a good gift. Combine the visit with Gouverneto and Stavros beach on the same day.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mosteiro de Agia Triada Tzagarolon
Does the monastery of Agia Triada operate?
Yes. It is an active Orthodox monastery, with monks, an icon museum and a shop selling their own products. It is open to visitors during the day; check the opening times.
Can you buy olive oil at the monastery?
Yes. The monks produce olive oil, wine and vinegar, sold in the monastery shop. The olive oil is one of the most sought-after products.
How should you dress to enter the monastery?
With shoulders and knees covered. At the entrance there are skirts and shawls available to borrow for those wearing shorts or tank tops.
Can you get to the monastery by bus?
There is no direct line. The route is by car, taxi or tour, about 25 minutes from Chania, near the airport.