Saint Paul is a very old Byzantine church that was built at the place Selouda. The church is on the spot where Saint Paul reportedly baptized people on his way to Rome. It is a very picturesque small church, built on the beach using stones from the beach itself. This is why it is not easy to see the church from far.
The Monastery of St. Anthony in Apezanes or Apezana is built on a rocky plateau of Asterousia Mountains, at an altitude of 440m, approximately 63km south of Heraklion. From there starts a short valley that leads from Antiskari village to the beachfront of Platia Peramata.
Arvi monastery is built near the gorge of Arvi, in an elevated area with panoramic sea views. Today it is abandoned and only remnants of monks’cells reveal its past.
The imposing Byzantine church of the Life-Giving Fountain (Zoodohos Pihi) is located between the villages of Koufos and Alikianos, at a site with many orange and lemon trees. The temple is also known as Ai Kyrgiannis (St Mister John) after the name of St. John the Hermit or Xenos who founded it around 1030.
The male monastery of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross) in Kardamoutsa is built very close to the village Karydi, at an altitude of 540m. Although the surrounding area is dry and rocky, there are many trees, especially hollies. At the entrance of the monastery you will see a huge oak tree, where according to tradition, whoever cuts a branch loses his hand.
The convent of Jesus Christ (Christ the Savior) is built on the hill of Timios Stavros, in the west suburb of Rethymnon called Koumbes. The monastery was probably initially founded during the Venetian period, like several monasteries and temples in the region.
The monastery of Panagia Gouverniotissa is located near the village Potamies, 3km east of Heraklion. Today it operates as a monastery, but the church is used regularly for liturgies. It is built on a small hill with nice views to Potamies valley.