Place of worship
Daphni Monastery
Greek name: Μονή Δαφνίου
Say it: Moni Dafniou
Photo: Originally uploaded to English Wikipedia by User:Ghirlandajo., Public domain, source
About
Daphni or Dafni is an eleventh-century Byzantine monastery eleven kilometers (6.8 miles) northwest of central Athens in the suburb of Chaidari, south of Athinon Avenue. It is situated near the forest of the same name, on the Sacred Way that led to Eleusis. The forest covers about 18 km2 (7 mi2), and surrounds a laurel grove. "Daphni" is the modern Greek name that means "laurel grove", derived from Daphneion (Lauretum). The Daphni Monastery, along with the famous monasteries of Hosios Loukas near Delphi and Nea Moni on the island of Chios, are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their significant historical and architectural value. These monasteries are famed as masterpieces of middle Byzantine architecture, and are especially noted for their sumptuous interior gold-ground mosaics.
Nearby
Places within walking or a short drive, best first.
- Fortification of Dafni MonasteryCastle20 m away
- Tower of RheitoiCastle3.6 km away
- Sanctuary of AphroditeArchaeological site1.7 km away
- Archaia Iera OdosArchaeological site2.3 km away
- Archaia FryktoriaArchaeological site2.4 km away
- Thriasion LagerArchaeological site4.4 km away
- Apopsi tis AthinasViewpoint2.9 km away
- Germanika PolyvoleiaRuins2.2 km away
- The Sacred Way to EleusisRuins4.6 km away
- Diomedes Botanical GardenAttraction650 m away
- Gefyra KOSKOAttraction980 m away
- Copa Copana water parkAttraction2.4 km away