During our 2021 Greece trip to Naxos, we found many places to explore with Kalamitsia Monastery being one of our favorites. Also known as The Jesuit Monastery, this was much easier to find than we anticipated and so much fun to explore. We had a small SUV so we were able to drive the road to the monastery, but you can walk it as well.
Location
Kalamitsia Monastery is located 1.4 km south of the village of Melanes and 3.6 km NW of Ano Potamia. It is also a little over 9 km SE of Chora, Naxos. The monastery is located on a narrow dirt road. We had no difficulty with a small 4 wheel drive, but a car could probably drive this road as well. The road ends just after the monastery and we parked there.
History
The Kalamitsia Monastery was built in 1673 as a summer retreat for the Jesuit Monks up until about 1773. It was a fairly large and beautiful complex. Locals at that time referred to it as The Jesuit Palace because of its size and luxury. Other orders of monks occupied the monastery over the years. Now abandoned and in ruins, you can still see the beauty and grandeur from long ago.
Exploring the Monastery
The monastery is free to visit and from my understanding can be visited from dawn to dusk. There are no restrictions as to where you can not go, but it should be noted that extreme carefulness is necessary. The monastery sits on the side of a hill, almost hidden from the distance, so it seemed like we suddenly came upon it.
Since the monastery is in ruins, and there is no restoration in progress, this can definitely be a dangerous place. There are loose stones, dark areas, fallen walls, and also debris throughout the complex. Be very careful and watch where you are stepping. We would have loved to explore even more than we did, but we also erred on the side of safety and only explored areas which we felt comfortable walking about.
Conclusion
Kalamitsia Monastery was everything we hoped it to be and was also one of our favorite places to explore in Naxos, Greece. We loved the solitude and the beauty, not just the monastery, but the general area as well. It was a great stop for the day. Follow my next post which will continue the day hiking to two of the three Naxos Kouros. The Kouros are giant marble statues found in ancient quarries.
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Follow these Links for more posts of my 2021 Greece Vacay:
Lionas Beach and Apollonas Kournos, Sept 2021
Hiking Mt Zas and Cave of Za, Naxos, Sept 2021
Catamaran around Naxos, Sept 2021
Kouros of Melanes, Naxos, Sept 2021
The Portara of Naxos, Sept 2021
Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel, Revisited 2021
Ancient City of Lato, Sept 2021
Aforesmenos Lighthouse, Crete, Sept 2021
Avli Lounge Hotel, Rethymno, Sept 2021
Matala Beach Caves, Crete, Sept 2021
Hike to Martsalos Beach, Sept 2021
The Chapel at Georgioupoli, Sept 2021
Koutalas Beach and Sea Cave, Sept 2021
A Walk Through Chania, Sept 2021
Links to our 2018 and also 2019 Trip can be found in this post:
10 Days in Greece Athens, Crete, Santorini 2019
8 Days in Greece, Athens, Milos, Santorini 2018
Diary of a Gen-X recommendations for hotels, restaurants, & tours are based on our own experiences. We do not receive compensation for recommending at any of these nor are we affiliates of any hotels, restaurants, or tours. The only hotels & restaurants we recommend are places we stay which are clean, comfortable, and provide exceptional hospitality.