Mega Spileo Monastery
Mega Spileo Monastery
4.5
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4.5
349 reviews
Excellent
257
Very good
67
Average
16
Poor
5
Terrible
4
Voyagelicious
Boston, MA130 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
The monastery is on the main road to Kalavryta. There is a parking area just steps from the staircase that leads to the main entrance. It is very well maintained and has a good amount of religious relics in a special room. The views from up here are very impressive too.
Written 11 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven L
New York City, NY326 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
We arrived here after eating lunch in Kalavryta. Our driver had called ahead to find out when it was open and it was. We entered without our driver as is the law in Greece. We were the only ones in the monastery for awhile and then another couple showed up quite a bit later. There was an attendant to the monastery present on the second floor. The cave is on the second floor - just walk up the steps. I did not know where it was and initially tried to open the door leading down but it was locked. Luckily, the second floor door was open - we went in and gave a small per person fee to the attendant. There were donation slots available around the monastery for additional donations. We first viewed the beautiful museum and all the icons it contained. A fabulous museum! Viewing the icon of the Virgin Mary created by St. Luke the Evangelist was breathtaking. Made out of mastic (pine resin) and bee's wax it is an inch (3cm) thick. Then we continued walking and eventually found the cave on the same floor. Remember the Monastery is built around the cave. A fascinating place! Having the monastery to tour alone was very special. It was quite a contrast to our visit to the monasteries of Meteora in a few days where it was wall to wall people. As we were leaving, a bus arrived and it parked at the base of the monastery. The visitors from the bus had to walk up a fairly large hill. We had parked our car through the gate and up the hill for easy access. There is a dress code - knees and shoulders covered - just like other religious sites in Greece. At the top of the hill directly above the monastery is a cross. I had read that it was possible to take a path next to the monastery and wall up to the cross but it would take 30-45 minutes. Unfortunately, we did not have time for this. The monastery, the icon, and the cave are a must see in Greece!
Written 12 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GEORGIOS P
Athens, Greece333 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
amazing sight .
A very live monastery with the a famous miracle icon . Also a kind of museum within the monastery. Be aware of the opening hours as
the inhabitants follow a relegious schedule.
A very live monastery with the a famous miracle icon . Also a kind of museum within the monastery. Be aware of the opening hours as
the inhabitants follow a relegious schedule.
Written 20 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AthanasiaGreece
Athens, Greece4,605 contributions
Sept 2013 • Couples
On the road to Kalavryta make a stop and visit Mega Spileo! Dramatic environment (rocks, fortress-like building), nice view and history! This is said to be the first founded monastery in Greece (362AD) by 2 monks from Thessaloniki. They found in the cave (spileo means cave) the Icon of Virgin Mary made by Luke the Evangelist using wax and mastic.
You can see the icon into the chapel, you can also visit the museum with the holy relics and more (books/gospels, christian art...) Then you visit the atmospheric cave!
There is no entrance fee!
You can see the icon into the chapel, you can also visit the museum with the holy relics and more (books/gospels, christian art...) Then you visit the atmospheric cave!
There is no entrance fee!
Written 13 September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zuek
St. Petersburg, Russia401 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
It was a long trip from Zante island to the orthodox Church places in the continent. Monastery of Mega Spileo is placed 10 km far from the town of Kalavryta. It is found right on the central road that leads to Kalavryta and is geographically located close to Zachlorou village. It is built on the slopes of a steep side of a rocky hill, at a height of 120m, providing great views from its balcony.
In the monastery there are many holy relics and the most of the Holy Mary Icon that made from the wax. Also there is a spring.
In the monastery there are many holy relics and the most of the Holy Mary Icon that made from the wax. Also there is a spring.
Written 2 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Billie_Gin
Athens, Greece410 contributions
Feb 2020
Historic place with a lot of people everyday. Nice view of the valley and a lot of things to see inside and outside of the church.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maryannupright
Australia121 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
At first sight of this place, you just have to ask yourself; who on earth thought this was a good place to build a monastery, and what a building!
It draws comparison with the monasteries at Meteora: how can it not? If you just look at it from down below, it's impossible to imagine how it clings to the cliff face.
You can drive up here by car, or get off at the train station
It's definitely worth a visit.
It draws comparison with the monasteries at Meteora: how can it not? If you just look at it from down below, it's impossible to imagine how it clings to the cliff face.
You can drive up here by car, or get off at the train station
It's definitely worth a visit.
Written 4 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia50,924 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Mega Spileo is an incredible place indeed. Just about 10 kms from the town of Kalavryta it rises from the sheer rock cliff like a huge giant. It is a testament to human determination. It is so hard to believe people were able to build such an amazing structure on the edge of the cliff. And it is about eight floors high! The monks live in cells dug into the rock face. We arrived there from Kalavryta by car. Entry is quite cheap, only a few euros, but unfortunately I forgot the exact amount. The monks are friendly and very willing to answer any questions. We were allowed to walk freely around the monastery, in most areas. The church is lovely with some beautiful icons and frescos. There are also some very old books, original manuscripts, holy crosses, and a good variety of other relics and objects in the museum. There is also a large cave on one of the bottom floors, which is just amazing. The Monastery was built in the year 362 after an icon of the Virgin Mary was found on the site. Hence the Virgin Mary is the protector of the monastery. The history of the monastery includes the fact that it has been severely damaged by fire several times, including once by the Nazi Germans, who murdered most of the monks, while some escaped in hidden caves with some holy relics. The area surrounding the monastery is mostly mountain and rock with trees and the like. It is a great sort of landscape. The views are stunning and on a good day, such as on the one we were visiting, you can't help taking as many photos as you can. This is a must see site.
Written 14 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OzTraveller71
Australia15 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
Well worth the visit. Best accessed by car. We had a very helpful monk who gave us a tour and a history of the monastery and the surrounding region.
Written 11 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
manasta
Athens, Greece177 contributions
Oct 2015 • Family
This monastery is build on a rock in a stunning location and it is one of the most famous in Greece. Turks and Germans burn it but the miraculous Virgin Mary icon, made by St. Lucas the Evangelist with wax, still waits for you to worship.
Written 31 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Για να μπεις μέσα έχει κάποιο κόστος;
Written 22 December 2018
Καλησπερα σας. Απο sergiani travel
Η εισοδος στην μονη ειναι δωρεαν!!
Written 23 December 2018
Planning a visit in September, maybe Sunday the 9th. How do I learn when open?
Written 7 August 2018
Is open every day, I know. Close is just between 13.00 o clock and 14.00 o clock.
Written 8 August 2018
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