The Monastery of Odigitria Gonia is a historical landmark in the town of Spatha, Crete. The monastery was founded in the 17th century and soon flourished due to the rich monastic tradition that developed in Spatha. The monks gathered in Gonia Monastery and it played an important role in local history. The monastery served as a shelter for the rebels of Crete and was thus destroyed multiple times by various conquerors. The canon ball which is stuck in the east wall of the monastery is proof of that fact. The initial church, which dates back to the 14th century, is located near the present monastery complex. The tall wall that surrounds that complex results in it looking like a Venetian castle. The monastery includes monk cells, an abbey, a dining room, cellars, but also the Orthodox Academy of Crete, schools, a gym and a pool, among other buildings.