Toplou Monastery
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The Toplou Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery located in a semi-arid area of the Lasithi region, on the eastern part of the island of Crete, Greece. Situated approximately 6 kilometres north of P
General view of the monastery
The bell-tower
One of the outer courts
Original church
Vai (Crete)
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Vai, Greek for "palm", is a region of east Crete between Cape Sidero and Cape Plaka, just south of the site of ancient Itanus but north of the villages that surround and are part of Palaikastro. Vai d
Toplou Monastery
…facilities. However, the Cavo Sidero peninsula is a Natura 2000 designated area of particular biodiversity and archaeological importance and home to the Vai natural palm forest, the largest of its kind in Europe. On top of that, it is one of the driest areas on Crete and the large amounts of water that would…
The open forest is shown with Phoenix theophrasti in all stages of development from free-standing trees to small maquis-type bush trees.
The central beach from the palm line showing the sun shelters.
A view to the west up the valley. The access road is on the left. The region of Vai Villa is out of sight over the pass ahead, in the agricultural land of Toplou Monastery.
Wetlands of the lower forest