Majestic and quite impressive, Toplou monastery or monastery of Panagia Akrotiriani is located about 10 kilometers from Sitia with the 10 meters high wall that surrounds it which resembles a fortress.

It was built in the 14th century with references to official documents of the 15th and 16th centuries with this name. Always had active social action. There are many theories about how Toplou was named, with the most widespread one to support that it originated from the word wealth, as it has large real estate.

In the Toplou monastery, there are exhibited admirable icons, crosses, gospels, seals, sacred vestments and other objects of ecclesiastical art.

The monastery has a bell tower, which is quite imposing, 33 meters high. Particularly developed is the cultivation of organic vines, organic olive oil, as well as the production of an alcohol drink named tsikoudia, products well known in Greece as well as abroad.