The province of Malevizi at the eastern foothills of Psiloritis Range still impresses with its religious monuments and the deserted countryside monasteries. The rugged mountainous terrain has formed a special cultural center.
Paliani Monastery near Venerato 
The nunnery of Paliani is located at an altitude of 280m, next to the village Venerato, 20km southwest of Heraklion at the exit of Venerato Gorge. The monastery is dedicated to the Assumption and celebrates on August 15.
The monastery of Savatiana or Savvathiana is located in a beautiful wooded and well-protected position near Rogdia, at an altitude of 440m and at a distance of 20km west of the city of Heraklion. The monastery is one of the several monasteries that operated in the area during the Venetian period, which was later mercilessly destroyed by the Turks.
The monastery of Saint George Gorgolainis is located at an altitude of 480m, next to the village Asites, 24km south of Heraklion. It is built at a lush green area with huge platan, cypress and oak trees. Indeed, one platan and one cypress tree inside the complex have been declared as protected natural monuments by law.
The Monastery of Agia Fotini the Samaritan is located at Ellinoperamata, Malevizi district, on the road leading to Rodia village. It was founded in June 1991 by the Archbishop of Crete, Timotheos. The monastery houses the church of Agia Fotini, the chapel of St. Fanourios, the nuns’ cells and the tomb of the founder of the monastery, Timotheos.
Pantanassa monastery (Panagia Pantanassa) is built atop a pine covered hill beside the sea at an altitude of 30m, about 14km west of Heraklion. It is a relatively new female monastery dedicated to the Nativity of Mary (celebr. on September 8).
Agia Irini monastery is located 25km south of Heraklion and 3km west of Kroussonas village, on the slopes of Psiloritis at an altitude of 630m. It can be accessed via the road connecting Kroussonas with Livadi plateau.
The nunnery of Rodia, known as Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary was founded in 1990 by the Bishop Nektarios Papadakis. The region of the monastery belonged to Agapi Sbokou, who donated that to the Archdiocese of Crete in order to found the monastery.
The holy monastery of Agii Pantes is located near Loutraki settlement, by Kroussonas. It is a modern convent located at an elevated position overlooking the area.
