The monastery of Aretiou on the island of Crete

This 16th century monastery is built against a mountain in a fairly dry and inhospitable place northeast of Neapoli. The monastery has recently been restored. It is accessible via an asphalt road that runs from Neapolis to Dories - Karidi - Aretiou monastery. Within the high walls of the monastery are two beautiful churches, which are very dark inside. The biggest church of the two is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the other to St. Lazarus. The monastery Aretiou was the most prosperous monastery in the region of the Mirabello Gulf. In the courtyard of the monastery grow cypresses, palms, flowers and fruit trees, especially lemon trees, but also other fruits (that were unknown to me). Funny are the bell towers which are not in a tower but that are just hanging on a rope between two trees. Both in 1821 and in 1940 the monastery was luted, the first time by the Turkish invaders, the second time by the Germans.