Skellig Michael - a small rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean near the southwest coast of Ireland. It is located about 12 kilometers west of the Iberian Peninsula (County Kerry), and today is a very popular tourist attraction.

The island of Skellig Michael is known for its breathtaking natural landscapes and spectacular scenery. World famous as the island was located here because of the ancient monastery of St. Michael, who is considered one of the most interesting monasteries of the early Christian period in Europe and at the same time one of the most difficult. Holy Monastery perfectly preserved to this day and is an important historical and archaeological sites. In 1996 the monastery was declared a World Heritage Site.

The exact date of the founding of the monastery is unknown. An old legend also has it that the monastery was founded by the Holy Fionanom back in the 6th century, although the earliest written sources that have survived to our times, dating back to the 8th century. It is believed that before the foundation of the monastery of Skellig Michael was uninhabited, though categorically refute or confirm this hypothesis of reliable data has not been found. Thus, the island's history is inextricably linked with the history of the monastery.

To get to the monastery you need to climb the steep winding paths to a height of about 200 meters above sea level. Here, on the large terrace, you'll see this fine example of early Christian architecture - monastic cells, a form resembling a beehive, the Church of St. Michael, the two speakers (place for prayer), and stone crosses and plates.

The monastery was abandoned at approximately 12-13 th centuries, and its inhabitants moved to the Augustinian Abbey Ballinskelligs village on the island of Ireland. In the 19th century the island was built two lighthouses, and Skellig Michael became an important landmark for ships.

The island of Skellig Michael - one of the two Skellig Islands, and along with the island of Little Skellig form an important nature reserve, home to a large population of sea birds (cormorants, razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins, etc.) and a paradise for bird watchers.

The island is accessible to the public from April to October, and only under favorable weather conditions.