Gouverneto Monastery, Chania

Gouverneto is among Crete’s oldest surviving monastic sites, founded during the Venetian era in either 1537 or 1548. A census from 1637 recorded around 60 monks residing there, affirming its importance as one of the island’s largest monasteries at the time.

Architecturally, the monastery impresses with its fortress-like structure: stone walls, corner towers-of which only two remain-and a rectangular courtyard encircled by monastic cells. Its centerpiece is the katholikon, a domed church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, featuring a richly ornamented Venetian façade and possibly some of Crete’s oldest surviving frescoes.

Beyond its religious and architectural value, the monastery carries deep historical resonance. During World War II, German forces used it as a guard post. Since 2005, monks have overseen restoration efforts to honor its heritage and retain its function as an active religious site.

For those seeking more than stone and prayer, the monastery serves as the gateway to the Avlaki Gorge: a scenic footpath that winds down to the sea, past the evocative Arkoudiotissa Cave (named for its bear-shaped stalagmite and once associated with Artemis), and culminating at the ancient, cliff‑carved ruins of the Katholiko Monastery.