St Nicholas’s Church, Mesopotami

1016 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

3/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

October, 2019

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Partner

Reasons for trip

After our experience with day trippers from Corfu to Albania at “Blue Eye Springs”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/201149-review-blue-eye-springs, we were slightly hesitant when our driver then suggested calling at “St Nicholas’s Church,”:https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Nicholas-Monastery-Church-Mesopotam/180951571945394, Mesopotami. However, unlike at Blue Eye, on arrival there was only a couple of cars parked up. These probably belonged to the builders who were working on the restoration of the bell tower: a sign indicated this was being funded by the European Union and National Funds of Greece and Albania.

Having paid 100 Lek/75p each, the church, literally in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by fields and cypresses, was opened for us.

The beautiful church was built in the 11th century on the site of an earlier one. Some of the blocks in the rear of the outer wall had carvings, said to pre-date Christianity. Our guidebook referred to an eagle, lion, dragon and a mythical creature appearing to strangle itself with its own tail and we found them all.

The church is unique in that as it served people of two different faiths, Orthodox Christians and Catholics, there are two apses.

Inside the frescoes were not particularly well persevered and the walls had a pale blue whitewash to the walls and central pillar: possibly the result of communist desecration.

This was not necessarily a highlight on our trip but after Blue Eye, it offered peace and tranquillity.

Helen Jackson

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.