Kishë · Orthodox monastery

St. Mary's Monastery

Përditësuar 2026Verifikuar në këmbëAbove Dhërmi village

A small Byzantine-era monastery church on the slopes above Dhërmi, dedicated to Saint Mary (Manastiri i Shën Marisë) and dating to around the 13th–14th century. Built of pale stone with a red-tiled roof and a little bell tower in the Byzantine style, it looks out over the old village, the coast and the mountains, and its interior is painted with frescoes, the finest of them added in 1781 by Ioannis, Archbishop of Himara and Delvina.

The stone church and bell tower of St. Mary's Monastery above Dhërmi
St. Mary's Monastery · Orthodox monastery
Periudha
Orthodox monastery
Vendndodhja
~700 m above the village
Hyrja
Free
Orari
Varies — often open in daytime; the interior may be locked outside services.
Koha e nevojshme
30–45 minutes
Vlerësimi
4.1★ · 10 vlerësime

Oraret dhe çmimet u kontrolluan së fundmi në 2026 — ndryshojnë, ndaj konfirmoni ditën e vizitës.

Historia

Si lindi

Dhërmi and the Himarë coast have a long Orthodox Christian tradition and a historic Greek-speaking community, and the hillsides above the village hold several old churches and monastery chapels. St. Mary's is one of them, standing among the stone houses of the upper village with sweeping views over the Ionian.

Çfarë do të shihni

Gjatë një vizite

The stone church and bell tower, the faded wall paintings and icons inside, and — perhaps best of all — the view from the terrace over the old village rooftops, the beaches below and the Ceraunian Mountains behind.

Si të vizitoni

On the slopes above Dhërmi, a short but steep walk or drive up from the beach through the old upper village. It's a working place of worship, so dress modestly and keep quiet during any service.

Koha më e mirë

Daytime for the light and the views; early or late in summer to avoid the midday heat on the climb.

Galeria

Si të shkoni

Vendndodhja
~700 m above the village · Above Dhërmi village

Mirë të dini

The interior, with its old frescoes, is sometimes open in the daytime but can be locked outside services. Even when it's closed, the terrace and the views over the village and coast are worth the climb.

It's a Byzantine-era church generally dated to around the 13th–14th century — a small single-nave stone building with a little dome and bell tower. Frescoes inside were added over time, some of the painting dating to 1781, the work of Ioannis, Orthodox Archbishop of Himara and Delvina.