The Monastery of Valsamonero is found 54 kilometres
far from Heraklio at the Southwest, 2 kilometres from the crossroad before
Kamares at the site of Vorizia. The Monastery has been constructed during
the early Venetian domination; some inscriprions indicate the date of
1332.
The Northern aisle of the church, dedicated to Virgin Mary, was constructed
in early 14th and was the first building; later on, between 1400 and
1428 the Southern aisle was added, dedicated to Aghios Ioannis; in 1438
it was added the lateral aisle, dedicated to Aghios Fanourios (a Saint
of great importance for the locals, celebrated on the 27th of August)
and later on it has been constructed the outer narthex.
The church has wonderful wall paintings, excellent samples of the Byzantine
painting of the Cretan school, which flourished during the Venetian domination;
it is from this school that started his art the famous Domenico Theotokopoulos
("El Greco"). For example, the wall paintings of the lateral aisle of
the church have been made by the famous Cretan painter and hagiographer
Konstantinos Rikos.
On 1947, after World War II, the Monastery has been restored under the
supervision of the eminent Greek archaeologist N. Platon; the works of
restoration are still in progress under the supervision of the Ephorate
of Byzantine Monuments |
