Location
Church of Saint Barbara, Latziana
Latziana, Chania
Church of Saint Barbara, Latziana – Latziana, Chania
**Church of Saint Barbara in Latzianá** The Church of Saint Barbara in Latzianá, within the village of Voulgaro in the Kissamos area, is a remnant of middle Byzantine sacred architecture. The building, probably erected in the 11th century as the main church of a former patriarchal monastery, has survived to the present day in a ruined state. Nevertheless, its architectural form and the remains of its interior decoration testify to a high artistic and architectural standard, rarely encountered in rural parts of Crete. The monument forms part of the broader corpus of late Byzantine and early Venetian-period sites on the island and constitutes an important point of reference for the study of the history of art and architecture in Crete.
Description
The church was constructed according to the **cross-in-square domed type** (*σταυροειδής εγγεγραμμένος με τρούλο*), which in this context reflects influences from the architecture of Constantinople. The exterior elevations display elements of the **“recessed brick” technique** (*κρυμμένη πλίνθος*) and plastered decoration imitating isodomic stone masonry, indicating a deliberate artistic concept and a high level of craftsmanship. The interior was originally decorated with wall paintings dated to the second half of the 11th century; although a substantial portion of the frescoes has been removed or destroyed, surviving fragments of saints and Gospel scenes point to artistic connections with workshops associated with Constantinople.
Today, the church stands abandoned and in an advanced state of ruin, underscoring the urgent need for conservation measures. Its location within the small settlement of Latzianá, in the municipality of Voulgaro–Kissamos, gives it the character of a hidden site—less known than Crete’s major monuments—making it of particular interest to scholars and enthusiasts drawn to the lesser-traveled traces of Byzantine Crete’s historical landscape.
Location
Latziana, Chania
Coordinates: 35.43661, 23.69632