The Monastery was founded in 1542 on the base of an older church. It was built to honor the Assumption of Virgin Mary and was renovated between 1757 – 1767 by monk Ignantios Mpasoulas. The baroque-style temple, the bishop’s throne and the pulpit (end of the 18th century) came from Florence whereas the paintings were made by iconographer Ioannis “ton ek ton Kerkiras” (=the one that comes from Corfu)
The architecture of the building is very impressive. The decoration of the bell tower and the fountain are stereotypical examples of traditional Cycladic marble carving. Among the various collections of the monastery, there are numerous old tools and utensils, important religious relics, vestments, furniture (a wooden crafted epitaph, desks etc.), post-Byzantine paintings and various other items.
Panagia Tourliani used to be very important for the local economy and the community of Ano Mera has developed in the same area as the monastery.
