Monastery of the Brigadiers
The Monastery of Taxiarches (Brigadiers) is located on a hill north of Polichni, just 10 km from Meligalas. At the same point is the Castle of the Archangel, around which the ruins of the fortified enclosure and the tower are preserved.
The monastery dates back to the 10th century (with frescoes of the 18th century), while the Frankish Castle was built later and dates back to the 14th century. Only the Katholikon and some parts of the monks' cells survive from the Monastery of Taxiarches.
The temple belongs to the cruciform inscribed type. Its dome is internally reinforced, with two intersecting ribs, an unusual element in Byzantine temples in the Greek area. During the Byzantine period, a narthex was added, while in recent years a second wooden-roofed one was also built. There is also a strange legend, which is related to the history of the Monastery. Legend has it that an old bell of the Monastery was thrown into a cistern with a snake with horns guarding it.