The village of Kiriana and the Byzantine Panagia church on Crete

Kiriana is a village 15 kilometers southeast of the town of Rethimnon and 5.5 kilometers from the village of Adele. You drive through the village when you are on your way to the Arkadi monastery. In Kiriana, along the road that leads through the village, stands the beautiful Byzantine church of Panagia (Church of the Virgin Mary). It is an impressive and very beautiful church in the shape of a cross with a central dome. In the front of the church there is a beautiful carved bell tower with three arches, which makes the shape of the church pretty unique. Inside the Panagia church there is a marble relief of Christ and the saints.

There are a number of old stone houses in the village but most of the houses in Kiriana are of modern architecture. They are hidden in their green surroundings. Kiriana located in a hilly area with lots of olive trees and woods. Along the high cliffs that surround the village birds of prey fly around. Kiriana is a quiet village where only occasionally the peace is disturbed when an excursion bus drives through (or even a miniature tourist train) en route to or from the nearby monastery Arkadi. There is a mini market, a butcher and there are a number of taverns and kafenions. For all other facilities you have to go to nearby on villages in the area, such as the coastal village of Sfakaki which lies at 6 kilometer distance, or the town of Rethimnon which is 15 kilometers away.