Hotel Minos Palace

Date of establishment: 8th-9th century

Single nave church with a dome. Wall-paintings:1st levelhas fragments of without subjects and persons, perhaps of the iconoclastic era. 2nd level has fragments of wall-paintings dated from the 14th century

Feast day 6 of December and 20 of May.

 

North of the town of Agios Nikolaos on top of a small peninsula, stands the church of Saint Nikolaos, the oldest example in the area of classic early Byzantine architecture.

 

It is quite a small church which was built between the 7th and 9th century, during the Iconoclastic period, as indicated by its schematic decoration. Geometric and natural patterns, and intersecting circles unite to form multi-coloured leaves of bright colours, and schematic tree trunks with branches, in addition to diamond and rosette shapes, comprise the interior decoration.

 

These illustrations had been super-imposed over the originals because of the ban on icon painting in churches imposed by the Byzantine emperors of the Isausus dynasty (712-802A.D.) which, having commenced in Istanbul, spread throughout  entire Byzantine Empire eventually reaching the town. When the church was being repaired during the 14th century, after suffering damage from the earthquake of 1303 that rocked and almost destroyed Crete, it was discovered that the schematic decorations had concealed the Christian paintings.

The Folk Art Museum of Agios Nikolaos, in collaboration with the "Cultural Society of Eastern Crete", founded in 1978. All the original and important material was generously offered by the Touring Club of Agios Nikolaos. Since then more objects have been added to the collection.

A visit to the Folk Art Museum will help you to become familiar with the sort of work and activities the people of this area had in the old days. The Museum houses a rich and beautiful collection of hundreds of genuine samples of Cretan popular art and mainly hand woven and embroidered pieces, some of which are unique.

There are some, interesting Byzantine icons to be seen, a complete series of wooden carved small objects, Cretan costumes, household articles, handicrafts and some old manuscripts and books.

The Museum houses also two private collections kindly offered by two well known people of this area (an example for others to follow)

a)General Ioannis Alexakis' Military Arms, 

b) Mrs Hrysoula Xanthoudides- Koundourou's special embroidered double faced pieces. 

The Museum is open daily except Saturday from 09.30 to 13.30 and 17.00 to 21.00

Location: Oposite the bridge, next to the Tourist Information Office

Tel.: ++30-841-2509 3

k.paleologou 41, 72100

tel.28410-21666 mob.6977266744