Tour of Heraklion Prefecture
The prefecture of Heraklion is the most populated of Crete.
It covers an area of 2.011 square kilometers and lies between the prefectures of Rethymno and Lasithi.
The climate in the prefecture is very good with sunshine most of the year. Its capital, the town of Heraklion is the capital of the island.
Heraklion city may be used as a starting point from which to visit the archaeological sites and other important places of the Heraklion prefecture.
It is world-famous for its exquisite archaeological and historical sights.
KNOSSOS
KNOSSOS, the most important center of Minoan civilization, lies 5 kilometers south-east of the town.
Excavations were begun on the site in 1900 by the English archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans and continued for 35 years, with a number of breaks.
They brought to light some impressive finds, most of which are on display in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
The Archaeological site of Knossos comprises:
The Great Palace, the labyrinthine design of which includes many corridors, store-rooms, sanctuaries, ceremonial rooms, the majestic throne room, the royal quarters with their superb wall-paintings – the originals are in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum-, the room of the giant crock (pithos) and the theater.
The Little Palace, the second largest building on the site.
The Royal Villa
The House of the Priest
The Caravan Serai, which has public baths
The Royal Tomb – Sanctuary
The House of Dionysos, with its superb mosaic floors.
Other important archaeological sites on the prefecture include ARCHANES, VATHYPETRO and MALIA.
At ARCHANES site (15 kilometers south of Heraklion), the remains have been found of a Minoan Palace, with a Minoan cemetery at Fourni and a tripartite shrine at Anemospilia (5 kilometers south-west of Archanes).
A Minoan Villa has been found at VATHYPETRO, 20 kilometers south of Heraklion and at MALIA, 34 kilometers east of Heraklion, a two-storey palace has been discovered with a Minoan residential districts, a harbor and a cemetery at Chryssolakkos.
Tour of Heraklion Prefecture
MALIA
Malia is one of the most popular tourist resorts in Crete and one of the biggest in Greece, well-known for its exciting night life.
Malia is synonymous with parties and nightlife.
Malia town is divided into two parts the Old Town where there are traditional Cretan buildings and restaurants and the New Town where you will find numerous hotels of all categories, shops, travel agencies. restaurants, clubs and bars.
Malia has a beautiful and fully organized sandy beach.
The coast road leading east from Heraklion to Malia passes through sea-side villages and towns, which are great tourist attractions, with fine beaches, hotel facilities and many shops:
KARTEROS
A long and wide sandy beach 8 km east of Heraklion with different names for the various parts of it (Florida Beach, Karteros Beach, Akti Club, Amnissos beach, Tobrouk beach). You will find beach bars, cafes, restaurants, and fish taverns.
AMNISSOS where a Minoan villa has been discovered
VATHIANOS KAMPOS
HANI KOKKINI where a Minoan villa has been excavated.
Hani Kokkini has a fine sandy beach and it is located 12 km. from Heraklion.
In the region you will find some hotels, apartments and rooms to let, restaurants, shops, travel and car rental agencies, coffee shops and bars.
KATO GOUVES with small sandy beaches, many apartments and rooms to let, restaurants and shops.
Tour of Heraklion Prefecture
HERSONISSOS
Hersonissos is the largest tourist resort in Crete and famous for its nightlife.
Hersonissos consists of several small villages and the main tourist destinations of Limenas Hersonissou, Anissaras and Old Hersonissos.
The villages are Koutouloufari, Piskopiano, Avdou, Anissaras, Potamies, Gonies and Kera.
The sandy beach of the port is the largest beach in Hersonissos.
All facilities and water sports are available here.
Limanakia are various sandy beaches one after the other.
In the east part of Hersonissos there are several smaller pebbly beaches.
At the region you will find many hotels, apartments and rooms to let of all categories, restaurants, fish taverns, and bars, cafes.
Lots of clubs and discos, shops so a noisy place better suited to a young public coming here for the action and not for a quiet holiday.
STALIDA is located about 30 kilometers from the capital along the national road.
It has a beautiful beach, narrow but long, with fine sand and water sports facilities.
In the area you will find many hotels, restaurants, taverns, various shops, coffee shops, and lots of bars.
Tour of Heraklion Prefecture
There is much of interest in the interior of the prefecture, south of the capital: the cave of Eilitheia south of Karteros, a cult site from the Neolithic period, the monastery of Angarathou, one of the oldest on the island, Kastelli Pediados, Ancient Lyttos, Thrapsianos a pottery-making village, Agies Paraskies, Myrtia or Varvari with the N. Kazantzakis Museum, Choudetsi, the monastery of Agios Georgios Apanosifis (built about 1600), Arkalochori (33 km. from Heraklion), Martha, Kato and Ano Viannos both fine head-villages with churches in which wall paintings are preserved.
The main product of Viannos is its unique and famous olive oil.
Many findings prove that Viannos was a strong city during the antiquity. During both the Turkish and German occupation the people of Viannos added golden pages in Crete’s struggle against the invaders.
Near the south coast of the island is Amiras, followed by Keratokampos and Arvi, beautiful sea-side villages on the Libyan Sea.
Recent years these small settlements of the coastal part have prospered due to the cultivation of early vegetables and bananas.
The villages attract many visitors during the summer time.
Keratokampos is a long beautiful beach with pebbles and sand on parts.
Arvi is the pebbled beach of the Arvi village.
There you can find small hotels, rooms and apartments for rent, fish taverns and cafes.
The Byzantine monastery of Paliani is south-west of Heraklion and further to the west are Zaros, the Vrontisi monastery, which has 14th c. wall-paintings, the monastery of Agios Fanarios Varsamonerou and Kamares.
The famous Kamares-ware pottery, dating from around 2000 BC, was found in the cave here.
There are some important archaeological sites in this area.
Tour of Heraklion Prefecture
PHAISTOS
PHAISTOS is the second most important archaeological site after Knossos.
Excavations here have brought to light important finds of the Minoan, Geometric and Hellenistic periods.
The palace complex at Phaistos comprises royal quarters, store-rooms, a basin, shrines, workshops, etc.
The remains of a small palace – the Villa of Agia Triada – are to be found on a hill with a view over the fertile plain of Tymbaki, 2.800 meters west of Phaistos.
This is believed to have been the summer residence of the ruler of Phaistos.
Within the archaeological site is the two-aisled church of Agia Triada.
Between the villages of Agii Deka and Mitropolis are the ruins of ancient Gortyn, one of the most powerful cities on Crete, and the capital of the island during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
The most interesting monuments in the archaeological site are the remains of an acropolis and an ancient theater.
Near the Agora are the ruins of the basilica of Saint Titos and the Gortyn Museum contains finds from the area.
The coastal settlement LENTAS, to the south, has a fine beach with clear sea.
Loutra is a nice beach with pebbles 3 km east of Lentas.
A short distance away is the ancient Leben, the harbor of Gortyn.
We may also mention Agii Deka, which has a Byzantine church of the same name and the modern town of MIRES (53 kilometers from Heraklion), which is an important public transport and commercial center in this region.
A road leads south from here to Pombia, Pigadakia and Kali Limenes.
KALI LIMENES is a picturesque village where Saint Paul is said to have disembarked on his journey to Rome.
The village has a pebbled beach with crystal clear waters.
MATALA
The road leading south-west from Phaistos ends at MATALA, once a small fishing settlement that has developed into a modern holiday resort with several hotel units, rooms to let, pensions and camping sites.
The artificial caves carved into the rocks are the trade-mark of the village.
The famous beach preferred by hippies, who used to live in the many caves of Matala in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
A short distance away is the Odigitria monastery, with some notable icons and sacred vestments.
Starting again from Heraklion and proceeding westwards, we come to the village of GAZI, and after that, to the south-west, the village of TYLISSOS, one of the most important Minoan cities, where three houses dating from the Late Minoan period have been excavated.
The new National Highway heading west along the coast and connecting Heraklion with Rethymno passes through several popular sea-side tourist settlements and villages of interest: AMMOUDARA, LINOPERAMATA, PANTANASSA, PALEOKASTRO and AGIA PELAGIA.
In Agia Pelagia there are many hotel units, restaurants and cafes. Its bay is protected from north-west winds and the sea is almost always calm.
Ammoudara beach is located 5 km west of Heraklion.
It is a long, sandy and fully organized beach, in an area with many hotels of all categories.
Along the beach you will find cafes, restaurants and beach bars.
Paleokastro is a small pebbled beach, located 10 km. from Heraklion.
There are a few taverns here and some small hotels and apartments.
A short distance away is the verdant village of Rogdia and the picturesque settlement of FODELE, the birthplace of the great painter Domenikos Theotokopoulos, famous as El Greco, and the monastery of Agios Panteleimon. Fodele has a fine sandy beach.
Tour of Heraklion Prefecture
TRADITION – EVENTS
The cultural events take place at the garden theater “Kazantzakis”, at Heraklion town, during the summer.
Other important events and festivals include:
- The festival of Panagia on the 15th August at Rogdia.
- The several cultural events and the festival of the grape of Archanes on August.
- Three – day cultural events during August and the memorial for the 820 inhabitants that where executed, on 14th September, at Viannos.
- The festival of Agios Ioannis Klidonas on 24th June, where you can taste fruits and tsikoudia takes place at Agios Myron.
- Cultural events during July and August takes also place at Mires, Phaistos and Tibaki.
LOCAL PRODUCTS – CRETAN CUISINE
Crete has one of the oldest and most tasty gastronomic traditions in the world, a tradition of tastes, aromas, ingredients and skills which begin from the prehistoric years and continue until today.
In Heraklion and its villages restaurants and picturesque seaside taverns offer tantalizing Cretan specialties: pies of wild greens, cockles, boiled goat, fish, sweet tarts “kaltzounia” and delectable Cretan wine often accompanied by the sound of the Cretan lyre.
Don’t miss to taste a glass of raki, the famous Cretan drink.
You can buy the renowned, handmade Cretan knives, copies of Minoan depictions, a Cretan kerchief or famous Cretan cheeses.
