The monastery of Saint John above Chora

The monastery of Saint John the Theologian was founded in 1088 and built like a fortress against pirates: high grey stone walls, battlements and buttresses, sitting on the highest point of the island. Chora grew up against it, so the white cubes of the town run right to the foot of the walls — that contrast, whitewash against dark stone, is the frame the island is known for.

The working positions are outside. The lane that circles the walls gives near-vertical stone as a background at any hour; the terrace on the west side takes the sunset over the sea; and from the ridge with the restored windmills you get the monastery, the rooftops and the water in one shot.

It is an active monastery inside a UNESCO listing. Shoulders and knees covered, and photography inside is restricted — check on the day, and plan the session for the courtyards, the walls and the lanes below. Opening hours are limited in the afternoons, so build the visit around them.