Holy Monastery of Saint Paraskevi

An absolutely breathtaking place to visit! The Holy Monastery of Saint Paraskevi is perched on the edge of the Vikos Gorge, offering some of the most stunning views in all of Greece. The short walk from Monodendri village is scenic and peaceful, and once you arrive, the combination of history, tranquility, and natural beauty is truly moving. A must-see spot in Zagori – spiritual, serene, and unforgettable.

Nice walking of 600m from Monodendri to the monastery. The monastery is not operative, but this 600 years old monastery has beautiful frescos inside its church, and is nicely built with local stones and tiles, located just on the cliff of the gorge. Great view of Vicos canyon. Also nice cafes and restaurants at beginning of the way down to the monastery, with good local pastries.

This old monastery is highly worth visiting. It offers amazing views over the Vikos George. Very friendly and welcoming people operate the shop inside and provide information on the monastery. The monastery can be reached from the nearby village after a 600 meter hike.

An enchanting place of worship that represents the Greek resilience. A great place for soul-searching and an ideal refuge from the noise of the city. The crew in the shop and the male usher in front of the main structure are all very soft-spoken and kind.

Small monastery, dated back to the beginning of the 15th century, situated in the fantastic landscapes of Viko gorge. There are three entrances there: one to the small church, where you can still see the old painting, one to a small shop with religious objects and another one to a spectacular view over Viko gorge.

It's not a difficult walk to the monastery and the view is simply spectacular. The monastery is no longer active but is maintained and there is a souvenir shop.

Visited in March 2024 This was a fantastic Monastery. The location on the side of the mountain was breathtaking. We bought quite a few of the handmade and hand painted items they had. The small village that you walk thru on the way has a lot of really nice restaurants and souvenir shops...it is not your normal tourist location...the village really takes pride in their home and it shows how immaculate the village is. Truly one of the places not to miss!!! The Monastery of Saint Paraskevi is an abandoned monastery situated on the edge of Vikos Gorge, in northwestern Greece. The monastery founded at 1413–1414, consists of a small stone-built chapel, the oldest preserved in Zagori, and offers panoramic views to the gorge. The monastery, named after Saint Paraskevi was founded at 1413–1414. According to an inscription over its gate, the foundation took place when the local ruler of Epirus was Despot Carlo I Tocco. It was built by the inhabitants of the nearby village of Vitsa and with the personal expense of a local lord, the voevoda Michael Therianos. Tradition mentions that Therianos built the monastery as an act of thanksgiving for his daughter's savior suffering from an incurable illness. The church is a small basilica, with only a nave and a wooden roof, surrounded by the monks' cells. The frescoes of the temple partially date to 15th century. On the northern wall, there is a donor portrait of Therianos, his wife and children. The depictions are indicative of the dressing code of that time. The outfits of the benefactors are luxurious with rich embroidered cloths, broad braids and fringes. His daughter, Theodora, is wearing a white kerchief on her head, which is wrapped around her neck. The wall paintings on the south wall are dated from the relevant inscription around 1689.

It's small but lovely. The way down is easy and you can good eat in the restaurants in the village above.