Panormitis Monastery

Panormitis stands at the head of a deep protected inlet on the far side of Symi from the main town, a large eighteenth-century complex around a courtyard paved in black and white pebble mosaic, with a tall baroque bell tower added in the 1930s. The church holds a silver-clad icon of the Archangel Michael, patron of seafarers, to whom Greek sailors have sent votive offerings for generations; the museum displays hundreds of them, including model ships, and bottles thrown into the sea with money and prayers that, tradition holds, drift to this bay. Monastic cells around the courtyard are let to pilgrims as simple accommodation. Day boats from Rhodes stop here before continuing to Symi Town, which makes the mornings busy and the afternoons calm.

What you actually see

• The pebble courtyard - black and white mosaic paving around the church.
• The Archangel icon - the silver-covered image at the heart of the cult.
• The votive museum - model ships and offerings left by sailors.
• The bay - a sheltered inlet with the monastery filling its head.

When to go

Spring and autumn; mornings bring the Rhodes day boats and the largest crowds, so early or late is quieter. The monastery observes services and a midday break.

Honest expectations

Dress rules are enforced and photography inside the church is not allowed. The bay has a small beach and a taverna but little else. The road from Symi Town is winding and the bus infrequent.

Nearby

Symi Town and its harbour lie across the island; Rhodes is an hour away by boat.