The monastery was built around 1775. It has a typical byzantine basilica and beside the church there are two store dwelling ruins that where habitable then and for storage usage. Athali church size 10 x 10.5 meters, covered with flat ceiling, while the side naves are rectangular, separated from each other by columns with arches that connect adjacent walls, which are covered with barrel vaulted.
THE MONASTERY
The monastery of Aithaliotisa (or simply Athali) with St. Mary’s church inside is located about 10 km from the centre of Himara on top of the homonymous hill of Athali. Surrounded by large oak trees the monastery cannot be seen from the coast on nearby areas except from the road leading to Piluri.
The monastery has its celebration every year on Friday after Easter and every 15 of August, where more than 500 people gather to celebrate with a lot of food and traditional dancing.
During its active years, the monastery, was famous for its wine and beautiful vineyards that occupied the vast majority of land and the virgin olive oil. We can observe this from the cultivated land around the monastery. Unfortunately, the olive trees are the only one that remain till this very day. The monks were great shepherds and were very generous with the villagers as they always shared their harvest.
