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Greece - Petralona, Andromonastiro

Andromonastiro (Ανδρομονάστηρο) is a Byzantine monastery fortress founded at the end of the 12th century. Since it was built like a fortress, it contributed significantly to the Greek War of Independence of 1821, where it suffered a lot of damage from Ottoman troops. In 1785, and in order to halt the decline of the monastery, it was dedicated, as metochi (= embassy church), to the famous monastery of Agia Aikaterini on Mount Sinai. They sold the complex in 1929 and in 1862 it was granted to the Voulcanou Monastery.

Andromonastiro stands out for its remarkable fortress-like architecture, with buildings from different periods and various uses. Thecomplex consists of a three-storey building with the dining room, a two-storey wing with the monks' cells, storerooms, stables and the wine press and another two-storey building with the main entrance to the monastery.

The katholikon (main church) of the monastery was built at the end of the 12th century on a holy place, a spring with drinking water, which still gushes today in an underground vaulted space. A second construction phase took place in the 17th century; in the middle of the 17th century, the northern chapel of Saint Catherine was added to the church. The oldest frescoes date back to the middle of the 13th century. The newest frescoes belong to the 17th-18th century and are located in the lower perimeter zone of the church.

The monastery, which was in ruins for many years, has been completely restored since 2011. Nowadays it is considered being the most impressive monastic complex in the Messenian countryside and one of the most beautiful in the Peloponnese.
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37 comments

Walter 7.8.1956 said:

Sehr schön Jaap.
Und Danke auch für die Hintergrund Informationen dazu!
2 months ago ( translate )

Madeleine Defawes said:

Superbes images bien cadrées !
Bonne journée. Amitiés
2 months ago ( translate )

Annemarie said:

wonderful, so enbeded in green!
2 months ago ( translate )

Nouchetdu38 said:

The chruch and the site are really very beautiful********
2 months ago

Guy Bacca (guybac) said:

Une forteresse avec sa belle architecture bien montrée dans l' image principale et les PIPs
2 months ago ( translate )

Joe, Son of the Rock said:

A beautiful building that stands out well from the greenery. All the best, Joe
2 months ago

Herb Riddle said:

Lots of walls in this monastic setting Japp. Well done.

HWW, enjoy the day. Herb
2 months ago

Nicole Merdrignac said:

Superbe . Bonne journée. Nicole .
2 months ago ( translate )

Alexander Prolygin said:

Beautiful Greece !!!
2 months ago ( translate )

Patrick Brandy said:

Magnifique endroit merci pour l'info bonne journée.
2 months ago ( translate )

Xata said:

My fave for the second PIP, HWW Jaap
2 months ago

Gudrun said:

What a beautiful building- the interiour is great, HWW!
2 months ago

Angelofruhr said:

Schön!
2 months ago ( translate )

Percy Schramm said:

Fantastic looking monastery !
2 months ago ( translate )

Günter Klaus said:

Da zeigst du wieder tolle Aufnahmen von dieser Festung,es ist auch immer toll,das du auch Innenaufnahmen machst :))

Wünsche noch einen schönen Nachmittag,liebe Grüße Güni :))
2 months ago ( translate )