Kapsa Monastery, Ierapetra, Greece

Kapsa Monastery is built on a steep, rocky mountainside near the exit of the Perivolakia gorge, which offers picturesque views of the Libyan Sea. Kapsa monastery was most probably established in the fifteenth century, although no exact date of its establishment is known. In 1471, it was destroyed by pirates and as a result was then abandoned for centuries. In 1841, it was rebuilt by a hermit, who spent his last years in a nearby cave. Moni Kapsa is a metochion of Toplou monastery. During the Axis occupation of Crete, the monastery often sheltered Greek partisans and allied soldiers.

The main building (katholikon) is a two-nave church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Today, Kapsa functions as a male monastery.

References:

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User Reviews

Igor Peterlik (4 years ago)
Nice place, walk to a nearby cave above the monastery. Not much to see inside the monastery, everything was closed (no entrance to a temple or a chappel possible. Compared to other monasteries, quite disappointing.

giwrgos lianoydakis (5 years ago)
Ideal

Przemysław Jurycki (5 years ago)
Amazing place with amazing view... Look for opening hours...

Kostis Katsirntakis (5 years ago)
Very impressive place

Александра П (6 years ago)
Magnificent view from the high point of monastery! Free entrance, but there is schedule about siesta time, don't forget to check before arrival. There is small parking area and usually not many people there. Nearby there is very impressive gorge, if you like hiking.

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These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.

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