Tourist Attractions & Monuments Crete

Less long (7.5 km), less known and run than the Samaria Gorge, these gorges nevertheless have a definite charm with flourishing vegetation, especially in spring, amazing geological formations and deep caves that were used in history to hide women, children and rebels during the Ottoman occupation. In some shady corners grows the grass of the gods, the famous diktamon. The hike is easy, but once out of the gorge, there is still a 4 km walk on flat ground to Sougia and its beach (without shade).

Founded in the 16th century, and more precisely in 1594, as testified by the date engraved on one of the bells of the monastery, most probably by a monk from the family of Preveli, it has played for several centuries an important role as a center of studies (its library is particularly rich) and of conservation of certain artistic traditions (paintings, icons, woodcarvings). Its history is closely linked to the periods of resistance to the various occupiers: the monks often directly supported the rebels, especially during the Cretan revolutions of 1821-1823 and 1866-1869 against the Ottomans. During the Great Battle of Crete in 1941, many British, New Zealand and Australian soldiers took refuge there before being evacuated by the beach below in the direction of Alexandria in Egypt with the help of submarines. Part of the monastery was destroyed in retaliation by the Germans in 1941 and all the monks were taken hostage. The present buildings dating from different periods offer a pleasant ensemble. The monastery museum, built in the former stables, houses an exhibition of one hundred Byzantine icons (17th-19th centuries) of great artistic and historical value. Many of them are representative of the influence that Flemish art of the first half of the 17th century had on the austere Greek art of the Orthodox dogma. The museum also contains various liturgical objects and offerings from grateful British soldiers.

Built in 1628 by F. Morosini, the Loggia, an emblematic building of the Venetian period, was the building where the nobility and the authorities of Candia gathered to discuss or consult each other on political, economic and commercial matters. Deprived of its functions during the Ottoman period and destroyed during the Second World War, it was scrupulously rebuilt in the same place. It is a beautiful building to visit on a walk. At the northern exit, the small Sacredo fountain has remained intact over time.

The ruins of the Venetian bridge used to cross the now dry torrent are admirable. A still visible work of art that would go almost unnoticed. The most symbolic figure of the entry or exit of Samaria.

A walk on the coast will take you to Kokkinos Pirgos beach, which you can also rally by bus or car, but we advise you, at least to go, the walk that will take you up to 1 hour 30.

Looking south of the city, you will see that a mountain range dominated by Mount Yiouchtas is cut out in the shape of a human profile. According to a legend, it is Zeus who, resting there, would have fallen asleep there. With a fauna rich in birds (44 species) and an important, but not yet studied in detail, flora on the mountain grows eleven endemic species, two of which are very rare. Every year, on 6 August, a religious ceremony takes place in the small chapel perched above. You can go there from Heraklion via Archanes.