In order to complete our tour in the region of Messenia we certainly must visit the Byzantine aspect of the area: the Holy Monastery of Metamorfosi tou Sotiros (the Transfiguration of Our Lord the Saviour), also known as "Andromonastero". It is the most important Byzantine monument of Messenia, one that showcases the region even more since it confirms the continuity of our civilization. It is one of the most well preserved monastery complexes in the Greek territory and the two archaeologists of the site, Lambrini Bouza and Eleni Babaritsa are the curators of its restoration.
A monastery belonging to the 12th or the beginning of the 13th century, is the old "metochi" (monastery dependency) off St. Catherine's of Sina. Today its structure resembles a fortress that includes a three story high Refectory, a Tower that was added later, the "Katholiko" where the monk's cells were, and one more two story building which was configured into a "diavatiko" the main entrance of the monastery. But the most important element in the architecture is the Katholiko building. It features statues and a marble templon. They say it was built on a holy source of drinking water. Its type is a tetrastyle variant and in its interior there are frescoes that narrate the life of saints: the "Palm-bearer", Ascension and the Pentecost.
This holy monastery can be an attraction for religious tourism and further utilized in a cultural context in order to showcase its well hidden treasures to the world.
