The monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa is the most important historic monument of Amorgos and one of the greatest in Greece. It is located in the south part of the island literally built inside the rocks, in a 300m height from the sea level and can only be seen from the sea. It is highly impressive and makes people wonder how they managed to build it in such an abrupt and gnarled position during the byzantine times.
According to the epigraph on the silver exapteriga, the monastery was built in the beginnings of the 10th century and renovated in 1088 by the byzantium emperor Alexios A' Komninos. It took its name from Panagias' icon saved inside the monastery. The tradition says that this icon came to the island in a strange way from Hozovo or Hozova of Palestine.
The building has 40m length and 5m width. Its characteristic is that the monks' cells, the kitchen, the warehouses and the tanks are built inside the rock that is transformed into a building of unique architecture. Its labyrinthine interior is separated with small rooms and it has carved in the rock stairs that lead to the floors. It is a unique creation of human will against the natural elements.
Inside the monastery are saved priceless ecclesiastic treasures, Byzantine icons, sacristies, handwritten Gospels etc.
The monastery celebrates in November 21 and a feast is organized then. Food and sweet pasteli from Amorgos is offered to all visitors.