Close to the Chania International Airport "Daskalogiannis" (IATA: CHQ) and about 15 kilometers drive from Chania town, you will find one of Crete's richest and most beautiful monasteries: Agia Triada Tzagaroli. Dedicated to the Holy Trinity, this place of worship owns its existence to Venetian-Cretan noblemen Jeremiah and Lawrence Tzagarolo. They erected it here in the 17th century over the ruins of a former church.
During the Ottoman occupation of Crete, the Turks called it Selvili Manastir, "the monastery with the cypress trees," a worthy moniker given the nature surrounding the temple at the time. A road lined up with cypress trees still leads to the entrance of the monastery.
During its history, Agia Triada Tzagaroli served a vital role in the development of Cretan education, and today contributes significantly to the local tourism and economy. The monks produce olive oil, wine, and soap of exceptional quality, which you can purchase from the monastic shop on the premises.
During a tour of the complex, you can visit the olive oil mill and the wine cellar, as well as a small monastic museum exhibiting religious artwork, clothing, crucifixes, and documents of great value. Some of the most noteworthy exhibits include a portable icon of St John the Theologian from the 1500s, a manuscript on a parchment roll with the mass of St. Basil, a portable icon from 1855 with the Hospitality of Abraham, and the Zoodochos Pege (Fountain of Life) icon from the 17th century.
