Ano Mera & Panagia Tourliani Monastery
Άνω Μερά / Μονή Παναγίας Τουρλιανής
The island's only traditional inland village, where a 16th-century monastery and small tavernas around the square reveal a quieter side of Mykonos.
Ano Mera lies in the central interior of Mykonos, about 8 km from Chora. It is the island's second-largest settlement and its best-preserved traditional farming village. At the village center is the Panagia Tourliani Monastery, first built in 1542 and rebuilt in 1767. Its white main building with a red-roofed bell tower houses an elaborate Baroque wood-carved iconostasis and a small museum of religious art. The monastery honors the Virgin Mary as the island's patron saint. The square in front is surrounded by traditional tavernas, where you can try local specialties such as kopanisti (spicy cheese) and louza (dry-cured pork), usually at lower prices than in town. On August 15, the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the village holds the island's most grand religious festival. Visitors must dress modestly to enter the monastery, covering shoulders and knees. You can reach the village by bus from town, or stop on the way to Kalo Livadi Beach on the east side if you are driving.
Opening hours
Monastery approx. 9:00 AM–1:00 PM and 2:30–7:30 PM (check on-site notices)
Nearby sights
- Kalo Livadi Beach
- Ftelia Beach
- Elia Beach
- Agrari Beach
- Kalafatis Beach
- Fokos Beach
- Super Paradise Beach
- Panormos Beach