Monasteries Sightseeing Tour

VISIT THE MONASTERIES OF ANDROS AND EXPERIENCE THE SPIRITUAL AND MYSTICAL ATMOSPHERE.

Starting from Batsi, our first stop would be Zoodochos Pigi monastery, right on top of Batsi gulf. The place provides a splendid view to the western part of Andros. The monastery, whose foundation date remains unknown, is the largest of Andros. According to tradition, it was a school during the Byzantine years and became a monastery in 842 AD. Since 1928 it has been a nunnery. With its imposing, defensive architectural style, the monastery houses the byzantine church with the beautiful wood carved iconostasis (altarpiece), impressive murals and icons dated in the 14thand 16thcentury and a library with books and manuscripts.

It’s time to head to the northeastern part of Andros, passing through traditional villages of Katakoilos, Arni and Vourkoti and visit the monastery of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas). The impressive building was founded in the 11thcentury and renovated in 1760. It is surrounded by high walls and houses a lot of chapels. The relic skull of Agios Nikolaos, the icon of Saint Nickolas embroidered by nun Leondia with threads and hair of her own and the byzantine icon of Virgin Mary are kept in the main church. The wood carved iconostasis of the church is also of exquisite beauty. From the monastery, there is unlimited view to the sea and famous Achla river and beach.

Leaving the holy monastery of Agios Nikolaos, the tour passes from the picturesque village of Apikia and then reaches the monastery of Agia Marina. Recently renovated, the monastery was built during the Byzantine Empire in 1325. During 16thcentury, the monastery was burnt down and destroyed by pirates, then restored and reopened in 1746, as a nunnery. It was closed in 1833 by royal decree and reopened in 1976. The monastery houses a lot of small chapels and the main church in which the 17thcentury icon of Agia Marina and the icon of the Virgin Mary are kept. The monastery is very famous for the miraculous cure of a boy from Cyprus.

As the tour continues, the first breathtaking view of Andros town peninsula begins to appear. After a walk in the old paved pedestrian road and lunch, we head to the south side of the island to visit the monastery of Panachrantos.

The impressive Monastery of Panachrantos was built in the 10th century by the Byzantine emperor Nikiforos Fokas, upon his return from the victorious campaign against the Arabs in Crete. Situated on the slopes of Mount Gerakones, at an altitude of 750 meters, it offers an exceptional view over the landscape, Andros town and the sea. In the monastery you can see the icon of holy Mother Mary (Panachrantos), a work by Apostle Lukas and also the relic skull of the martyr Agios Panteleimon, which was transferredthere from Constantinople in 1705. Part of the iconostasis of the church is covered with Iznik tiles, famous decorative ceramics of the 16th century.