Asceticism

The church of Prophet Elias is located north of the village of Skinias, in a clearing next to the Venetian watchtower 'Yialos head'. This was once the location of a small monastery, which is currently not occupied.

The monastery of Panagia Perampeliotissa dedicated to the birth of Virgin Mary, is located north of the village Kourounesand south of Nofalias, quite close to Neapolis.

Near the village Galifa, province Pediada, survives the two-aisled church of Agia Paraskevi and Agios Panteleimon. The temple dates back to the 13th century and bears great frescoes of a provincial painter, in very good condition.

The church of the Archangel Michael is located in the village of Agios (St) Thomas and is single-aisled temple with "archaic" frescoes of the 12th-13th century.

The church of St. George at center of the village Embaros is the most important Byzantine monument in the wider area. The church was built in 1436 and bears frescoes drawn by the painter Manuel Fokas in the 15th century.

Next to Faflagos beach there was the monastery of Agios Prokopios, which was once destroyed by the Arabs. Thus, the monks decided to leave the shore and build (in 855) a new monastery dedicated to Virgin Mary, at a very well hidden place, not visible from the sea. The church of the monastery of Panagia Keralimeniotissa (i.e. Virgin Mary – The Lady of the Ports), as it is called, still stands imperious at the same point near the exit of Xerofarago Gorge.

The chapel of Saint Stephen at Drakona (Kissamos province) is a small vaulted church sited in a lush green scenery. The temple dates back from the Byzantine Era (9th century) and bears extremely important frescoes depicting St Stephen (14th century).

The Venetian monastery of Jerusalem is located at village Loutraki but now does not operate. The monastery was a center of revolutionary activity against the Turks and refuge for some of the most famous chieftains of Crete.