Vrontiani Monastery (Moni Vronta)

Founded in 1566 by the monks Iakovos and Makarios on the ruins of an older church, this is the oldest monastery on Samos, dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos. Its name comes from the storms that so often break over this ridge - vrontaei, 'it thunders'. The great fire of August 2000 burned the forest around it and damaged the complex, though both churches survived and the buildings were restored from 2010 on. Its feast day is 8 September, when people come up from all over the island for the panigiri, the village festival. One monk lives here today. The road up from Vourliotes is narrow but short, with the Aegean in view most of the way, and walking up through the plane trees is half the visit.