The Wall Paintings of the Valsamonero Monastery

The monastery lies on the southern foothills of Mount Psiloritis, near the settlement of Vorizia (54 km from Heraklion). The name “Valsamonero” itself reflects the character of the location. Now abandoned, the monastery was a flourishing monastic foundation during the Venetian period.
The presence of high-quality painting across all the aisles—clearly visible in the photographs included in the publication—largely influenced by Constantinople, highlights the monastery’s importance in shaping artistic developments in Crete during the first half of the fifteenth century.
The study was carried out by Myrtali Acheimastou-Potamianou, Angeliki Katsiotis, and Maria Borboudaki, and forms part of the publication series issued by the Centre for Research of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art of the Academy of Athens.