Location information

The Andromonastiro (monastery only for men)

PETRALONA (Settlement) ITHOMI
This monastery (for men) at Petralona of Ithomi at constitutes an excellent byzantine monument which is very impressive with its turrets and fortified yard; a real castle. It was given the name Andromonastiro(=monastery for men) to distinguish it from the church of Samarina (Holy Mary the Egyptian) which was a monastery for women not 'men'. It was not Andro(niko)monastiro, built, that is, by Andronikos the 2nd the Palaeologo (1282-1328) but the main church is a building of the late 12th century, approximately 1200 A.D, while it is possible that additions (in construction) were made later on. In the inside of the high wall of the yard there is a four pillar church, which is a magnificent sample of byzantine style with excellent byzantine frescos.

This extract is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains images.

• http://www.na-messinia.gr/docs-en/n-samarinas.htm (1 img.)