Isova, Gothic monastery ruins in Lekani, Greece.
Isova is a Gothic monastery ruin in Lekani, Greece, featuring a rectangular church structure with an octagonal apse and external buttresses. The northern wall preserves single lancet windows with pointed arches, and the western wall still shows the outline where the original steep wooden roof once stood.
The monastery operated as a Frankish foundation between 1205 and 1263 until fire destroyed it. Turkish mercenaries fighting alongside Greek forces were responsible for setting the structure ablaze.
The monastery reflects Western European building methods that stand apart from the Byzantine style common elsewhere in the region. These differences remain visible in the walls and windows, showing how a distinct architectural tradition took root here.
The site is an open ruin with no admission fee and can be viewed from the outside. There is little shelter from the weather, so sturdy footwear and sun protection are helpful for exploring the area.
The monastery was one of only two Cistercian foundations in the entire Peloponnese during the early 1200s. This rarity makes it a striking example of Western European presence in southern Greece during that period.
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