Spiliotissa Monastery is located towards the north of
Zakynthos island. It’s nearly 30km from the islands capital and that would usually take around 45 minutes to drive.
The Monastery of Spiliotissa is devoted to “Our Lady of the Cave,” so called for its close proximity to a cave near the tiny village of Orthonies where an icon of the Virgin Mary was once discovered.
This religious site was built in the sixteenth century and the pine forests and olive groves surrounding it are truly emblematic of Zakynthos island. You may not be able to venture inside, but like all the monasteries on the island, the surrounding views are so breathtaking, you won’t complain about sticking to the monastery’s exterior.
Getting there can be a bit of a challenge as it’s in the middle of nowhere, there is a large sign post where you turn off the main road but you’ll probably want a sat nav to help guide you. Once there you’ll find space to park a few cars and as it doesn’t get busy that’s usually enough.
Visiting Spiliotissa monastery can be combined with a trip to
Xigia beach as that’s not far away on the east coast.
