Panagia Kroustallenia in Lassithi Plateau

The Monastery of Panagia Kroustallenia is built on a small hill covered with oak trees near the villages of Agios Konstantinos and Marmaketo in Lassithi Plateau. It is one of the most historical monasteries of Crete and is always worth a visit.

According to the tradition, the name of the monastery is taken either after the first founder of it, named Kroustallenia, or after an icon of Panagia (Vigin Mary) that was found in a nearby cave and was carved on crystal (Kroustalenia means also made of crystal - glass). The main temple is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and celebrates on August 15.

The monastery complex consists mainly of buildings of the 20th century, as the monastery was destroyed several times during the Turkish occupation.