Old Town of Vrana

The Benedictine monastery at Vrana, also known as the Old Town of Vrana or Gradina, was founded in the 9th century as a monastery dedicated to St Gregory. Its history is distinctly layered: the Benedictines were followed by the Templars and then the Hospitallers, while Venetians and Ottomans used the complex later on. The fortress was destroyed in the 17th-century Cretan War and was never restored to its original role. A visit conveys the scale of this former stronghold more clearly than its individual walls alone: its setting and remains reveal the connection between monastery, fortress and administrative centre. It particularly appeals to visitors interested in medieval heritage and archaeological landscapes.