# Saint Nektarios Monastery and the churches of Palaiochora

What to do en Aegina · Aegina

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/things-to-do/saint-nektarios-and-palaiochora · Revisado: 2026-11-12

- Duración: 2 h
- Temporada: All year; better in the morning
- Para quién: All ages; clothing that covers shoulders and knees

Visit · 2 h · Greece's great pilgrimage shrine and, on the hill opposite, the island's abandoned capital with its medieval chapels

What it is
About 6 km from the harbour, inland, is the monastery founded by Saint Nektarios, a bishop who died in 1920 and one of the most venerated saints of Orthodox Greece. Beside the convent a huge domed church was built, which receives pilgrims from all over the country, above all on 9 November, his feast day.
On the hill opposite is Palaiochora, the island's capital during the Middle Ages, when people lived inland for fear of pirates. The town disappeared, but dozens of whitewashed or stone chapels remain scattered over the slope, some with frescoes. A path climbs among them to the remains of the castle.
How to visit
Stop first at the monastery and then cross to Palaiochora, a few minutes by car, to climb among the chapels: an hour's walk over dry, stony ground. Bring water and closed shoes. At the monastery, shoulders and knees covered.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 37.7509, 23.4893

## Cerca de aquí

- [Temple of Aphaia, among pines above the gulf](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/things-to-do/temple-of-aphaia), a 3.8 km
- [Rastoni 1928 Heritage Residence](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/where-to-stay/rastoni), a 5.3 km
- [Aiakeion, the pistachio pastry shop](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/where-to-eat/aiakeion), a 5.4 km
- [Tasting Aegina pistachio](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/things-to-do/aegina-pistachio), a 5.4 km
- [Hotel Danae](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/where-to-stay/danae-hotel), a 5.6 km
- [Kolona, the column of the temple of Apollo by the sea](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/things-to-do/kolona-and-aegina-museum), a 5.8 km
- [Antonis, fish taverna in Perdika](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/where-to-eat/antonis-perdika), a 7.5 km
- [Perdika Mare Guesthouse](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/where-to-stay/perdika-mare), a 7.5 km

## Consejos

### Avoid 9 November unless you go for the feast
It is the saint's feast day and thousands of pilgrims arrive.

### Palaiochora, first thing or at the end
There is no shade on the slope.

Destino: [Aegina](https://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina.md)