Naxos Kaloritsa Monastery

Location: Sangri

The Byzantine Kaloritsa Monastery can be found on the slopes of Mount Profitis Ilias, behind the Bazeos Tower. What makes this hidden gem stand out is the fact that it stands on top of a cave that was converted into a church in the 4th century AD, when a shepherd is said to have found an icon of the Nativity of Christ inside it.

Measuring around 30 meters in length and 10 in width, this natural cave houses old frescoes dating from both before and after the Iconoclast movement, traces of aniconic art, as well as a 1619 mural depicting the Nativity. A central arch with a synthronon as well as a cathedra have also survived inside the cave. The ruins of the monks’ cells and the oven lie on the outside, while in the atrium between them, one can still see impressive post-Byzantine arches that seem poised in mid-air. As for the monastery itself, it was erected between the 11th and 13th century, and its ruins can still be discerned on the slope above the cave.

To get there, you will need to follow a relatively short uphill path with gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape. Please bear in mind that the trail can be hard to find, so it might be a good idea to ask the locals for directions.