Hosios Loukas is a historic walled monastery situated near the town of Distomo in Greece. It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art, and has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
Hosios Loukas, Greece Monterrasol private car tours to
Hosios Loukas, Greece Monterrasol private car tours to
Hosios Loukas, Greece Monterrasol private car tours to
Hosios Loukas, Greece Monterrasol private car tours to
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Last updated on: 25 March 2020
Hosios Loukas description
The Hosios Loukas monastery was founded in the early 10th century AD by the hermit, Luke of Steiris (in Greek: Lukas), whose relics are kept in the monastery to this day. A hermit is a person who lives in seclusion from society, usually for religious reasons.
Saint Luke (he should not to be confused with the Evangelist author of the Gospel of Saint Luke) died on 7 February 953. He is famous for having predicted the conquest of Crete by Emperor Romanos. The Crete island was actually reconquered by Nicephorus Phocas under Romanos II.
Saint Luke was believed to have been a miraculous healer, levitator, miraculous feeder and prophesier during his lifetime; after his death, all of the miracles associated with him involved the healing power of his tomb.
The main shrine of the monastery is the tomb of Saint Luke, originally situated in the vault, but later placed at the juncture of the two churches. The monastery derived its wealth (including funds required for construction) from the fact that the relics of Saint Luke were said to have exuded myron, a sort of perfumed oil which produced healing miracles. Pilgrims hoping for miraculous help were encouraged to sleep by the side of the tomb in order to be healed by incubation. The mosaics around the tomb represent not only Saint Luke himself, but also hegumen Philotheos offering a likeness of the newly built church to the saint.
The Hosios Loukas, the oldest in the complex, is the only church known with certainty to have been built in the tenth century in its site in mainland Greece. This centralized parallelogram-shaped building is the oldest example of the cross-in-square type in the country; its plan closely follows that of Lips Monastery in Constantinople. The walls are built from mix of bricks, stones, and pieces of marble and display curious patterns.
The Hosios Loukas adjoins a larger cathedral church, or Katholikon, tentatively dated to 1011-12. The Katholikon is the earliest extant domed-octagon church, with eight piers arranged around the perimeter of the nave.
Hosios Loukas is the largest of three monasteries surviving from the Middle Byzantine period in Greece. It differs from the Daphnion and Nea Moni in that it is dedicated to a single military saint. Saint Lukes' prophecy about the reconquest of Crete is commemorated by the image of Joshua on the exterior wall of the Panagia church: Joshua was considered a model "warrior of the faith", whose help was especially effective in the wars waged against the Arabs. The Katholikon contains the best preserved complex of mosaics from the period of the Macedonian Renaissance.
There is evidence that the monastery was reputed all over Byzantium for its lavish decoration, liberally applied to all surfaces. Apart from revetment, carving, gold and silver plate, murals, and mosaics (especially imposing on curving surfaces), the interior featured a choice assortment of icons, chandeliers, silk curtains, and altar cloths.
Hosios Loukas related tours
We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Hosios Loukas during multi-day private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Hosios Loukas.
We have developed several tours that visiting this beautiful place. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.
Discover Greece from Igoumenitsa: round trip via Parga, Delphi, Meteora. Ancient towns, beaches, castles and monasteries. See Parga castle and enjoy Parga beach, walk in Arta museum, refresh in Mesolongi beach, take image of Antirrio bridge, climb on walls of Nafpaktos fortress and swim down on the beach, visit UNESCO sites Delphi and Hosios Loukas monastery, walk in medieval old town Livadeia, say hello to Leonidas in Thermopylae, wonder on Meteora monasteries and return back via Ioannina with ancient castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List sites.
This 9 days (8 nights) tour covers the most important archaeological sites, monasteries and UNESCO sites of Greece mainland. See Parga castle and enjoy Parga beach, walk in Arta museum, enjoy unique Mesolongi wetland formation, take image of beautiful Antirrio bridge, climb on walls of Nafpaktos fortress and enjoy after crystal clear sea water and sandy beach, visit UNESCO archaeological site Delphi and UNESCO Hosios Loukas monastery, walk in medieval old town Livadeia, say hello to king Leonidas in Thermopylae, wonder on UNESCO Meteora monasteries, visit UNESCO archaeological site Aegae, and on the way back see ancient Ioannina castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List.
Come to explore main touristy attractions of Central Greece with this 9 days discovery tour from Athens. We will visit UNESCO Word Heritage sites and UNESCO tentative list sites, old monasteries, medieval fortresses, ancient theaters and archaeological sites. We will walk the places truly called as roots of the culture of our civilization.
Greece discovery 11 days (10 nights) round tour from Igoumenitsa will pass through ancient towns, beaches, castles and monasteries, and some places are on UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. The tour will visit Parga castle, we will walk in Arta museum, see Mesolongi sea lake, climb on steps of Nafpaktos castle and touch statue of Cervantes, take an images of longest bridge of the fully suspended type, walk in Patras fortress and pray in St Andrew cathedral, walk in Ancient Corinth, touch stones of ancient civilization in Mycenae, wonder on Corinth canal, walk the passages of medieval town Livadeia and visit old Hosios Loukas UNESCO monastery, ask Delphi oracle and see the place of the feat of Leonidas, visit unique UNESCO complex of monasteries in Meteora, stay in ancient theater of Larissa, visit UNESCO archaeological site Aegae, and on the way back see ancient Ioannina castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List.
This off-season balanced tour is aimed for people who interesting in the history of Greece, to walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. During this tour we will visit 6 places that are on the list of UNESCO. Many other we going to visit places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
This Peloponnese and Greece mainland discovery 13 days (12 nights) round tour from Igoumenitsa will pass through castles and fortresses, beaches, ancient towns and monasteries. Some of visited places are on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, and some on the UNESCO Tentative List. The tour will visit Parga castle, we will walk in Arta museum, see Mesolongi sea lake, climb on steps of Nafpaktos castle and touch statue of Cervantes, take an images of longest bridge of the fully suspended type, walk in Patras fortress and pray in St Andrew cathedral, walk in site of Olympic Games Ancient Olympia, explore old Messene, visit Sparta and medieval fortified town Mystras, touch stones of ancient civilization in Mycenae, wonder on Corinth canal, visit old Hosios Loukas UNESCO monastery, ask Delphi oracle and see the place of the feat of Leonidas, visit unique UNESCO complex of monasteries in Meteora, and on the way back see ancient Ioannina castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List.
Welcome to Greece off the beaten path 14 days tour from Athens. We going to visit less touristy areas of central Greece and understand Greek's national character. This tour will bring you to ancient theaters not included in tourist catalogs and beaches visit mostly by locals. Together with that we will visit few UNESCO sites, castles and fortresses, and monasteries.
This Peloponnese and Greece mainland discovery 16 days (15 nights) round tour from Igoumenitsa will pass through castles and fortresses, beaches, ancient towns and monasteries. Some of visited places are on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, and some on the UNESCO Tentative List. The tour will visit Parga castle, we will walk in Arta museum, see Mesolongi sea lake, climb on steps of Nafpaktos castle and touch statue of Cervantes, take an images of longest bridge of the fully suspended type, walk in Patras fortress and pray in St Andrew cathedral, walk in site of Olympic Games Ancient Olympia, explore old Messene, visit Sparta and medieval fortified town Mystras, touch stones of ancient civilization in Mycenae, wonder on Corinth canal, visit old Hosios Loukas UNESCO monastery, ask Delphi oracle and see the place of the feat of Leonidas, visit unique UNESCO complex of monasteries in Meteora, and on the way back see ancient Ioannina castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List.
This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.
This off-season 19 days (18 nights) tour covers several important UNESCO World Heritage sites located in Greece mainland and south Albania. Together with that will also visited numerous UNESCO Tentative List sites. Come to see beautiful Mediterranean land and visit stunning sites in the off-peak months!
During the tour here is plenty of things to do: from fascinating museums to imposing archaeological sites, and from mouthwatering gastronomy to perfect- picture villages and towns. Both Greece and Albania is the ideal destination if you enjoy nature and dramatic landscapes, regardless the time of the year you plan to visit it.
This Peloponnese and Greece mainland off-season discovery 19 days (18 nights) round tour from Igoumenitsa will pass through places that on UNESCO World Heritage list and on the UNESCO Tentative List. We will visit ancient towns and monasteries, castles and fortresses, beaches and mountain towns.
The tour will visit Parga castle, we will walk in Arta museum, see Mesolongi sea lake, climb on steps of Nafpaktos castle and touch statue of Cervantes, take an images of longest bridge of the fully suspended type, walk in Patras fortress and pray in St Andrew cathedral, walk in site of Olympic Games Ancient Olympia, walk the steps of old fortresses in Pylos and Methoni, explore archaeological site Messene, visit famous Sparta and medieval fortified town Mystras, touch stones of ancient civilization in Mycenae, wonder on Corinth canal, visit old Hosios Loukas UNESCO monastery, ask Delphi oracle and see the place of the feat of Leonidas, visit unique UNESCO complex of monasteries in Meteora, walk over Aegae archaeological place, and on the way back see mountain town Metsovo with famous winery, ancient Ioannina castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List.
This off-season tour will allow you to visit not only some of Greece's eighteen UNESCO World Heritage sites but also some of the country's fourteen sites in the UNESCO tentative list, together with other top destinations across this beautiful Mediterranean land. Come and visit this stunning country in the off-peak months! You will quickly understand why Greece is much more than just a perfect summer destination. Greece is a truly year-round destination!
It boasts plenty of things to do: from fascinating museums to imposing archaeological sites, and from mouthwatering gastronomy to perfect- picture villages and towns. Greece is the ideal destination if you enjoy nature and dramatic landscapes, regardless the time of the year you plan to visit it.
This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.
Explore 5 Balkans countries Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece in 21 days cultural tour from Zagreb to Athens. Discover Adriatic coast of Croatia; venetian towns of Dalmatian rivier; medieval towns of Montenegro; famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia, Montenegro and Greece; archaeological places in Albania and Greece; medieval fortresses of Croatia, Albania and Greece; UNESCO sites of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece.
This off-season 22 days (21 nights) tour covers the most important UNESCO World Heritage sites located in Greece mainland and all UNESCO World Heritage sites of Albania. Thw tour is also allow to visit many UNESCO Tentative List sites. Come to see beautiful Mediterranean land and visit stunning sites in the off-peak months!
During the tour here is plenty of things to do: from fascinating museums to imposing archaeological sites, and from mouthwatering gastronomy to perfect- picture villages and towns. Both Greece and Albania is the ideal destination if you enjoy nature and dramatic landscapes, regardless the time of the year you plan to visit it.
This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.
This off-season 24 days tour is interesting for people who would like to touch the history of Greece through visit few UNESCO Word Heritage sites, few UNESCO tentative list sites, and some of non-touristy places, all located in Central Greece. With this tour you will walk ancient historical places where are roots of the culture of our civilization. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of Central Greece UNESCO places in one tour.
This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.
Off-season discovery 26 days (25 nights) round tour from Igoumenitsa around Peloponnese and Greece mainland. The tour is focused on UNESCO World Heritage list sites and on the UNESCO Tentative List sites. We will visit castles and fortresses, ancient towns and monasteries, beaches and mountain towns.
The tour will visit Parga castle, we will walk in ancient city Nicopolis (UNESCO Tentative List), we will enjoy Arta museum, see Mesolongi sea lake, climb on steps of Nafpaktos castle and touch the statue of Cervantes, take an images of longest bridge of the fully suspended type between towns Rio and Antirrio, walk in Patras fortress and pray in St Andrew cathedral, walk in site of Olympic Games Ancient Olympia (UNESCO World Heritage), walk the steps of old fortresses in Pylos and Methoni, explore archaeological site Messene (UNESCO Tentative List), visit famous Sparta and medieval fortified town Mystras (UNESCO World Heritage), touch stones of ancient civilization in Mycenae, wonder on Corinth canal, visit old Hosios Loukas UNESCO monastery, ask Delphi oracle (UNESCO World Heritage) and see the place of the feat of Leonidas, visit unique UNESCO complex of monasteries in Meteora, walk over Aegae archaeological place (UNESCO World Heritage), and on the way back see mountain town Metsovo with famous winery, ancient Ioannina castle and Dodoni archaeological site included in UNESCO Tentative List.
The off-season tour 26 days tour started in Athens cover most of UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites in 2 countries, Greece and Albania. Additionally, the tour cover several places in Greece that submitted to the UNESCO tentative list.
Visiting UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites in Greece.
This off-season tour will allow you to visit not only some of Greece's eighteen UNESCO World Heritage sites but also some of the country's fourteen sites in the UNESCO tentative list, together with other top destinations across this beautiful Mediterranean land. Come and visit this stunning country in the off-peak months! You will quickly understand why Greece is much more than just a perfect summer destination. Greece is a truly year-round destination!
It boasts plenty of things to do: from fascinating museums to imposing archaeological sites, and from mouthwatering gastronomy to perfect- picture villages and towns. Greece is the ideal destination if you enjoy nature and dramatic landscapes, regardless the time of the year you plan to visit it.
With this extended 26 days Balkans cultural tour you will explore 6 countries: Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia and Greece. We will pass by Adriatic coast and Dalmatian Riviera of Croatia, wonderful hilly nature of Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal medieval towns of Montenegro, unexpected panoramas and castles of Albania, meet truly roman sites of Macedonia and rich historic places of Greece.
We will visit medieval and venetian towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Greece; ancient roman theaters in Macedonia and Greece; fortified towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Greece; medieval fortresses of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro; UNESCO sites in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania and Greece.
This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.
This off-season tour is focused on people who would like to get to know deeply the history of Greece and walk that ancient historical places where are roots of culture of our civilization. Around the world such places are on the list of UNESCO. And many other places now expecting to be on UNESCO list; such places are prepared, available for public for fraction of cost, and are on so called UNESCO tentative list.
During this tour we going to visit most of UNESCO places and UNESCO tentative list places, located in Greece mainland. Greece is so rich with history that visit all UNESCO places in one tour will take very long time. Because of that we, Monterrasol Travel, created this tour to be able to visit the most of UNESCO places in one tour.
March 28, 2021 Stobi, Macedonia. Stobi, the biggest city from the antique period in this part of Macedonia, only 80km south from the the capital Skopje, is a place that links the Mediterranean to the continental Balkan hinterlands, shrouded by the mythical rivers of Axios and Erigon, along which countless Roman legions, Crusading cavalries, Ottoman conquerors and World War armies had marched. Today, this region represents the midpoint where the Old and the New World of wine meet.
February 13, 2021 Kraljeva Sutjeska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kraljeva Sutjeska is a village in the municipality of Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, almost at the middle of Bosnia and Herzegovina territory.
The village hosts a number of important historical sites: 14th century Catholic Franciscan monastery, ruins of the medieval Bosnian Court, an old Bosnian house with the original architecture from the 18th century, and mosque from 15th century, claimed to be the oldest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, very close to the village is located Bobovac, a fortified city of medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina.
January 30, 2021 Ohrid, Macedonia. Ohrid is a city in the country with modern name North Macedonia (before it called just Macedonia). Ohrid once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem of the Balkans". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are Cultural as well as Natural sites.
January 22, 2021 Szigliget, Hungary. The ruins of the medieval recently restored fortress stand atop the 239m Várhegy hill.
January 7, 2021 Berat, Albania. Berat is the ninth largest city by population of the Republic of Albania. Berat, UNESCO World Heritage Site from 2008, comprises a unique style of architecture with influences from several civilizations that have managed to coexist for centuries throughout the history. Like many cities in Albania, Berat comprises an old fortified city filled with churches and mosques painted with grandiose wealth of visible murals and frescos. Berat is one of the main cultural centers of the country.
