The Monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa is located on the Vasilikos peninsula, near the village of Argassi. Only a part of the monastery has survived to the present day, namely the beautiful church of Our Lady of Skopiotissa, with only the remains of the outer walls and other buildings of the monastery complex remaining today. The monastery is an important historical monument of Zakynthos and also a popular destination for excursions, as it offers visitors an amazing view of the surrounding area. The monastery stands on Mount Skopos with an altitude of 496 metres. In the past, it also served as a watchtower for the town of Zakynthos and most of the island.

The monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa was built in 1446, probably on the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis. However, the monastery decayed over time and was damaged by strong earthquakes, so it was repaired and rebuilt in the 1720s and 1730s. The current appearance of the monastery complex and especially the church of Our Lady of Skopiotissa dates back to the 17th century.

The Church of Our Lady of Skopiotissa was built according to the Greek cross plan and with a somewhat unusual dome, which is oval in shape with eight sides. Interestingly, the overall architectural style of the catholicon (the main monastery church) is more similar to the churches built in the Cyclades, but the oval shape of the dome refers more to Western traditions. It is also said to be the only church with a dome on the island of Zakynthos. The interior of the church is decorated with late 17th century murals, an icon of the Virgin of Skopiotissa and a marble iconostasis. A two-headed eagle is visible on the floor of the church to signify the church's affiliation with Orthodoxy.

The monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa can be reached by a path from the seaside resort of Argassi, which winds up to Skopos and measures about 4 km in total. It is a beautiful and fragrant walk, as the path is lined with various shrubs and herbs, but it is also quite challenging. The hiking trail is still uphill and sometimes on not very paved terrain, so some people will swap the hike for a ride (we recommend a quad bike or off-road type of car). The monastery stands almost at the very top of Mount Skopos and there is a small bar just below it. As well as being happy to sell you ice cream or a cold drink, the bar owner will also unlock the church for you to peek inside if you wish.

The Panagia Skopiotissa Monastery offers amazing views of the distant surroundings, and even better panoramic views open up if you climb the rocky hill on the eastern side of the monastery complex. From here you can see the town of Zakynthos, Laganas Bay, the Vasilikos peninsula, even the Peloponnese and the island of Kefalonia.

More touristic destinations of Zakynthos

Most favourite sights of Zakynthos: Monastery of Anafonitria, Monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa, Church of Saint Dionysius, Church of Saint Nicholas (Zante), Skinari Windmill, Ruins of Bochali Castle

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Zakynthos.