Saint George church at Falandra near Phestos
The church of Saint George at position Falandra (or Flandra) is located near Phaestos and was the central temple of a small monastery. Next to the church are preserved tombs of the Venetian Era (with an inscription from 1581). The first temple, which according to his will, was founded by the local saint Ioannis Xenos in the late 10th century is not surviving (apart from one cistern). The temple is Venetian and,according to Cornelius was firstly dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Panagia).
Manuscripts indicate that the monastery, which was fortified, operated during the Ottoman Era as a dependency of Arkadi Monastery. In 1742 the Byzantine cistern was renovated and repaired (this one built by Ioannis Xenos). In the revolution of 1821 it was leveled and at the beginning of the century it preserved its fortified enclosure, the monk cells on the south and west ends, the south aisle of the church and the defensive tower in the west part of the north aisle (still standing).
Here camped, in the summer of 1900, the Italian archaeologists who excavated Phaestus palace. Traces from the cells and buildings around the temple disappeared around 1950, when they were used as building material.
