The Hosios Loukas Monastery is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, a treasure trove of Byzantine art and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled in a lush valley near the foot of Mount Parnassus, the monastery complements its surroundings harmoniously. Time seems to have stopped in this peaceful valley, keeping it in the 11th century as the rest of the world develops around it. The monastery and its artworks are as good as new; in fact, the monastery is still functional today.

Perfectly symmetrical and geometrical, the monastery is one of the most beautiful examples of Byzantine architecture in the world. It comprises a domed octagonal main church and a Katholicon in the centre, surrounded by other structures, giving the complex a square-ish form – an archetype of the Byzantine style. Inside the monastery, its floors are made of smooth, shining marble and its walls are adorned with frescoes and mosaics featuring gleaming gold backgrounds and which depict Biblical scenes and characters.

The monastery is dedicated to St. Loukas, a monk in ancient Greece who settled on the monastery’s present site. It is said that he was buried beneath the floor of his cell, around which the church was built to commemorate this revered monk.