The Church of Panagia Kanala is located in the southeastern part of the island and it is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Cyclades as it is considered miraculous.
A legend says that the painting of the Virgin was found by fishermen in the narrow “kanali” (=canal) between Kythnos and Serifos and thus the name, Panagia Kanala. The painting is typical of the Cretan school, painted by priest Emmanuel Skordilis in 1575. Nowadays, it is housed in a large church which was built in 1869. A huge festival takes place out the churchyard every August 15th with a representation of how the painting was discovered.
