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Places near Vathy
Agiofaraggo beach is found south of the Odigitria Monastery Abbey. One can go by caique from the southern beach (Matala beach) or by car from Odigitria.
After a way in the beautiful Agiofarago gorge the visitor is compensated with still one gift of nature the splendid beach.
It is small however very beautiful and still virgin, very quiet and the coast is full of pebbles.
The waters are crystal blue.
The scenery unfolds a 270 degrees distance to the Libyan sea and the nearby beaches.
The landscape wherever you turn is also simply amazing from the tall and imposing rocks that encompass it up to the light blue waters that call you to swim.
Southwest from Matala is an area where other remarkable beaches are located (Vathi, Agiofaraggo), which all have a common trait their wild beauty and crystal clear, blue waters. Martsalo area is another inaccessible bay that can be reached only by foot thgrough Martsalo Gorge.
This is where Apostle Paul has disembarked on his journey to Rome and has preached Christianism for the first time. At the middle of a gorge one can see a church of Saint Mary, nested in a cave, dating from the first Christian years. It is believed that this church was also a catacomb, where Christians were hiding to escape the persecutions of the various occupiers of Crete. Around the church, one can find monk cells carved into the stone and traces of centuries - old buildings.
To get here you should follow the dirt road that starts from Odigitria Monastery and heads to Lithino Cape (follow the dirt road that turn right after the monastery, while the left heads for Agiofarago). After several kilometers you will see a sign to Martsalo. If you follow the poor dirt track, you will find yourself at the beginning of Martsalo Gorge.
You should leave your car near the entrance to the gorge and continue walking southwards for about 2km.The route through the gorge is not particularly difficult.
The gorge, like the rest gorges of the region (e.g. Agiofarago) was and still is a hermitage of the Odigitria Monastery. For this reason, it is considered a site of great religious importance. In the gorge you will see many remnants of the cells, where the monks lived.This gorge is remarkable because of its old troglodytic church (a mass is celebrated every 15th of August). Thanks to the montains all around (which protect the place from the north), and to its south orientation, Martsalo also shelters a thicket of palm trees of the same species than those of Preveli and Vaï. This makes it a quite exceptional place which, from the top of the cliff, somehow looks like an oasis.
This is where Apostle Paul has disembarked on his journey to Rome and has preached Christianism for the first time. At the middle of a gorge one can see a church of Saint Mary, nested in a cave, dating from the first Christian years. It is believed that this church was also a catacomb, where Christians were hiding to escape the persecutions of the various occupiers of Crete. Around the church, one can find monk cells carved into the stone and traces of centuries - old buildings.
To get here you should follow the dirt road that starts from Odigitria Monastery and heads to Lithino Cape (follow the dirt road that turn right after the monastery, while the left heads for Agiofarago). After several kilometers you will see a sign to Martsalo. If you follow the poor dirt track, you will find yourself at the beginning of Martsalo Gorge.
You should leave your car near the entrance to the gorge and continue walking southwards for about 2km.The route through the gorge is not particularly difficult.
The gorge, like the rest gorges of the region (e.g. Agiofarago) was and still is a hermitage of the Odigitria Monastery. For this reason, it is considered a site of great religious importance. In the gorge you will see many remnants of the cells, where the monks lived.This gorge is remarkable because of its old troglodytic church (a mass is celebrated every 15th of August). Thanks to the montains all around (which protect the place from the north), and to its south orientation, Martsalo also shelters a thicket of palm trees of the same species than those of Preveli and Vaï. This makes it a quite exceptional place which, from the top of the cliff, somehow looks like an oasis.
Agiofarango is located in Heraklion Perfecture, in Crete close to Moni Odigitrias and Kali Limenes.
It takes about 20 minutes walking to reach the beach. At the begining of the walk, we find the church of Agia Kyriaki built in a cave!
In the gorge there is the church of Saint Anthony that he is partly built in a cave.
At Agiofarago we have several archaeological findings that show that there was activity in the Minoan and Venetian times, such as the Minoan, circular, domed tomb near the church of St. Anthony.
Shortly after Saint Anthony church, we find a cave entrance with a low and a large room. There is said to have left the Abbot of the Monastery of St. Anthony, called «goumenospilios». Generally in Agiofarago lived many hermits who had their shelter in caves and ate whatever they could find in the nature! Some historical evidence suggests that Agiofarago inhabited at least since the 11th century.
When you cross the canyon you will end up on a beautiful beach overlooking the Libyan Sea! It’s good to keep water with you, because in the canyon there are no springs.
Agiofarango gorge is one of the most known places of Christian ascetics in the island due to its remote position. According to legends the practicing monks were living in the surrounding caverns eating very little, praying and performing mass in the various rural chapels of this wild area. Close to the church of Agios Antonios another cavern that of goumenospilios (abbot cavern) was probably used an assembly space. Agiofarango Beach Agiofarango Beach Agiofarango Beach Historical evidence shows that Agiofarango was inhabited since the 11th century by monks, a period which is well known for asceticism in the whole area of the Asterousia mountains.Archeological evidence has also brought to light various finds from the Minoan to the early Venetian periods. South of the church of Agios Antonios, a Minoan tholos tomb stands as a reminder of the long history of Agiofarango. The beach of Agiofarango is found at the exit of the homonymous beautiful gorge, at the southern coast of Crete. It is a pebbly beach, well protected from the winds. Agiofarango Agiofarango Beach Agiofarago gorge and Beach
Agios Antonios Church in Agiofarango – Holy Gorge, south Crete, 20 km far from Matala.This church once was the area´s religious centre, presumably where the first rites of the Christian faith were performed.
The church undergone restoration works and additions on at least three occasion during its long history.At the begining it was a tiny church inside the cave in the rock, but growing numbers of pilgrims and monks brought about its enlargement.
The churge thus outside of the cave was built, but the altar remained inside. The church was added for the third and last time during 14 or 15 century and this stage is remained to this days. Its architecture technique is exquisite.Outside the churche is a well, which is the only source of cold, drinking water in the wide aerea. The church is aprox. 500 m before the beach.
From Agiofarango Gorge there is a narrow pathway to the east, leading to the small coastal village Kali Limenes, A pathway is marked time to time by red spots on the stones. This pathway runs at the begining steeply to the edge over the sea. . And close this edge we found out a deep yawning chasm replenished by the sea watterLentas (ancient Greek: Leben - 75 km far from Heraklion City) is also known to be one of the two harbours of Gortys, which became the most prominent city of Crete after the fall of Knossos.
Agios Antonios by Agiofarago Agios Antonios by Agiofarago Agios Antonios by Agiofarago From Agiofarago to Kali Limenes Beach to the East..
Martsalo Gorge is located in south - central Crete close to Lithino Cape, and is parallel with Agiogarago gorge, just 1-2 km to east. The Martsalo gorge is 2 km long and easy to cross and ends at Martsalo Beach. This is where Apostle Paul has disembarked on his journey to Rome and has preached Christianism for the first time.
To get here you should follow the dirt road that starts from Odigitria Monastery and heads to Lithino Cape (follow the dirt road that turn right after the monastery, while the left heads for Agiofarago gorge). After several kilometers you will see a sign to Martsalo. If you follow the poor dirt track, you will find yourself at the beginning of Martsalo Gorge.
You should leave your car near the entrance to the gorge and continue walking southwards for about 2km.
At the middle of a gorge one can see a church of Saint Mary, nested in a cave, dating from the first Christian years. It is believed that this church was also a catacomb, where Christians were hiding to escape the persecutions of the various occupiers of Crete. Around the church, one can find monk cells carved into the stone and traces of centuries - old buildings..
To get here you should follow the dirt road that starts from Odigitria Monastery and heads to Lithino Cape (follow the dirt road that turn right after the monastery, while the left heads for Agiofarago gorge). After several kilometers you will see a sign to Martsalo. If you follow the poor dirt track, you will find yourself at the beginning of Martsalo Gorge.
You should leave your car near the entrance to the gorge and continue walking southwards for about 2km.
At the middle of a gorge one can see a church of Saint Mary, nested in a cave, dating from the first Christian years. It is believed that this church was also a catacomb, where Christians were hiding to escape the persecutions of the various occupiers of Crete. Around the church, one can find monk cells carved into the stone and traces of centuries - old buildings..
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