What you will see
The monastery of Panagia Portarea (Virgin Mary) is one of the most important religious monuments of Portaria as the area was named after it. It was built over the first half of 13th century and around it, the first settlement begun to develop. After its collapse the single-spaced, wooden roof chapel survived, with its ruins being admired till the day. It was built on the 16th century above the initial Byzantine monastery of Panagia Portarea. The entrance is adorned by a painting of Virgin Mary as happened in the monastery and the murals date back to 1581 while the wood carved iconostasis was constructed in the early 18th century at the expense of Mr. Christos Moraitis.
Looking the chapel from outside, we certainly travel back into another era and a sense of nostalgia surrounds the atmosphere. The yard is being shared with the church of Agios Nicholas that is next to the monastery and is certainly worth a visit as well.
