The monastery of the Holy virgin of Spiliotica is one of the most valuable cultural and historical monuments in melnica. It is located in a picturesque place, on the East side of the hill of St. Nicholas, South of the town of Melnik.

The monastery was built in the early XIII century by order of despot Alexius. It represents one of the earliest examples of a typical monastic architecture of this historical period. Built on top of inaccessible terrain, he was part of the Bulgarian fortress lords Glory. The monastery had a separate and strengthening your defense system.

Up to the present day remained only the ruins of the cloister. Quite a large complex was built according to the classical scheme and had the canonical structure of medieval monasteries. There is a refectory, monks ' cells, a room for the Abbot, room for guests, a library, a defensive tower. On the territory of the monastery there was a cemetery chapel and two churches – Holy mother of God of Spiliotica" and "St. Spiridon".

The monastery became famous for literacy, which was published Alexius Slav in 1220. In her abode as "despotical and Royal". Still the history is not known about the existence of another monastery with similar status. Due to this, the monastery of the Holy virgin takes on special national and historical significance.

During the years of its existence, the monastery complex and the priests who lived here have undergone a lot of troubles. Since the second half of the fourteenth century to the beginning of XX century it was three times destroyed and was rebuilt again. Changed several times the name of the monastery. In the period from XVII to XIX century the monastery was called the "Light Zone", which means "Holy area". From the middle of XIX century, he gradually began to fall into disrepair and ceased to function after the outbreak of the First world war.

Today, the monastery has the status of a partially valid. In 40-ies on the foundations of the old Church a chapel was built "Light Zone". Despite the fact that from the medieval monastery is in ruins, this place is still revered as sacred.