Moni Gonia Monastery

Moni Gonia Monastery is a fortified religious complex near the Gulf of Chania with thick stone walls and a three-apse church at its center. The building combines defensive structures and monastic chambers arranged around interior courtyards that served both protection and daily life.

The monastery was built between 1618 and 1637 during Ottoman rule and served as a refuge for monks and communities. Its walls bear witness to military conflicts, including a cannonball embedded in the eastern side from an attack in 1867.

The monastery serves as a place of spiritual practice for Orthodox Christians and pilgrims who visit to honor the religious icons and art. Visitors can see how sacred objects are displayed and revered within the fortified stone courtyards that define monastic life.

The monastery sits about 26 kilometers west of Chania and is open to visitors during regular hours. The site is arranged so you can walk through the fortified walls, courtyards, and interior spaces where religious art and manuscripts are displayed.

The monastery holds two ancient monastic manuscripts that chronicle its long history and daily operations over centuries. Few visitors realize these documents offer rare details about how monks lived and organized their spiritual work here.