The monastery of Toplou is one of the richest and most important monasteries in Crete. Believed to have been built in the 15th century as a fortress-monastery in the vein of the ones built in central Europe, and was destroyed by an earthquake in 1612. The monastery was then rebuilt, in the way you can see today. The walls are adorned with well-preserved 1491 century murals. Only very few of the monastery’s precious relics still survive today, as the Turks repeatedly plundered the monastery. Toplou produces in an organic fashion, olive oil, honey and wine, which can be purchased.
