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Prefecture: Heraclion
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Tsoutsouras
Tsoutsouros is the heaven in the municipality of Arkalohori to the south of Heraklion prefecture. An unexpectedly picturesque and exquisite place with sparklingly clean sea and a number of nice sandy beaches. The vilage is located 65 km from Iraklion and 12km west from Keratokambos on the south coast of Crete.
Tsoutsouros beach is very popular to the people of Crete, specialy to the people of east Messara plain and Heraklion City, therefore it may be crowded during the weekends. In front of the village there is the small harbor of Tsoutsouras. East and west of the port, there are two large sheltered bays with a total length of 2km, which have lovely coarse sand and crystal clear water.
The beach is slightly organized with umbrellas and several tamarisk trees around. It is ideal for family holidays, because all necessary facilities for accommodation, entertainment and food are in close proximity. You can also use Tsoutsouras as a base for exploring the other surrounding beaches and sights.
Places near Tsoutsouras
The ancient sit eof Inatos is located 65 km from Iraklion, on the south coast of Crete next to the the small village of Tsoutsouros. Tsoutsouros is mainly a fishing/ farming community of about 100 permanent residents, is becoming a popular base of operations for visitors who prefer a less intense style of vacations, than that offered by big towns and popular resorts.
Einatos or Inatos or Einaton was the port of Priansos town by Kastelliana villages . It was a small town of Crete, in the south coastline of the island, at Tsoutsouros bay (borders of Heraklion - Lasithi prefectures). There were found ancient ruins, part of which is under the sea. Earlier coidentity of Einatos with Ini village is wrong. Excavations by archaelogists have unearthed ruins of the Greek and Roman times.
At Inatos, they used to worship Einatian or Binatian Eileithyia. The temple of the goddess was probably on the top of the hill, where chapel of Agia Eleni is now built. Here, like at Karteros (Amnisos), there is the cave of Eileithyia. The Greek archaeologists N.Platon and K.Davaras found that in the cave there are geometric, Greek and Roman layers. There were found geometric votive objects, placed in hollows, and Neopalatial stone altar and signets. The geometric artefacts have representations of erotic couples, or they are terracotta idols of pregnant women, nannies, small and large bronze double axes, models of ships etc.
The garment that was offered to the goddess was decorated with golden rosettes. There were also found bronze pins, barrettes, necklaces made of faience and mountain crystals, that remind us the Homeric hymn to Apollo. A tablet that is made of bone has the representation of a naked goddess, and a terracotta table has relief lions around the tree of life. The Roman statue of Niobides and an inscribed hermaic stele of the 3rd century AD are also from Inatos.At the Archaeological Museum at Heraklion are today on display the two small statuettes of "Niovides", depicting Artemis to shoot with a bow the children of Niovi. In the catalogue of Ierokles and the ancient inscriptions, the city is also referred as Binatos.The ancient authors write:
1. Einatos was place of Lykia or Crete (Hesychius).2. Einatos, City of Crete, as Xenion says. The national adjective is Einatios. Some others say that it is mountain or river, where they worship Eileithyia Einatia (Stefanos Byzantios).
Located 65 km from Iraklion and 12km from Keratokambos (Eastern) on the south coast of Crete is the small village of Tsoutsouros built next to the ruins of the ancient city of Inatos. Mainly a fishing/ farming community of about 100 permanent residents, is becoming a popular base of operations for visitors who prefer a less intense style of vacations, than that offered by big towns and popular resorts.
Tsoutsouros is the haven in the municipality of Arkalohori to the south of Heraklion. An unexpectedly picturesque and exquisite place with sparklingly clean sea, enriched with salt and ozone. The climate is wonderful as it has not a spell of moisture and that dryness contributes to the cure of breathing problems.
The houses are built along the coastal street, just by the long sandy beach. While most houses are new there are still some of them preserving the old traditional character, especially at the center of the village.
Regarding the inhabitants, they are really friendly, kind-hearted, polite and willing to offer hospitality to any guest that decides to visit their village.
There are many small cafes and tavernas all with wonderful patios where in the cool shade of the trees the visitors can enjoy the famous fresh fish of Tsoutsouros.
There are quite few rooms and apartments available in a couple of small, family owned, hotels in Tsoutsouros. Most of them are newly built with bathroom and kitchen facilities and since some of them belong to permanent residents they operate all year around.
Beach facilities like sunchairs and umbrellas or sea sports are not yet provided but you will find showers to wash out the salt.
A harbour - rather a fishing boats refuge - is now under construction and will be ready in a one or two years. Facilities to yachts will be then provided, such as mooring, refueling, water etc.
Mini markets and grocer stores are also available around the year.
The coastal village of Tsoutsouras can accommodate a large number of visitors who wish to enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete and to explore others nearby. The beach itself is about 60 km from Heraklion and it is located on the south of the Prefecture of Heraklion. The long, sandy beach with clean water has an organized part, offering facilities, such as umbrellas and sunbeds, but at a very close distance lies the quieter beach of “Listis”, for those who desire nothing more than sand and sea. You can also go to “Maridaki”, the only access for which is via a rutty road of about half an hour.
During summer in Tsoutsouras, young and old people have the opportunity to attend or take part in tournaments of beach soccer and beach volley, organized in recent years, while beach parties are often organized, so all the people on holiday there can have a lot of fun. However, apart from the beach, whoever finds himself in Tsoutsouras has the opportunity to make excursions to nature by hiking or climbing, as the mountain also has its own special interest. Furthermore, the settlement of Tsoutsouras is built on the ruins of the ancient city of Inatos and the surrounding area is of archaeological interest.
Weather/Climate
The climate in Tsoutsouros is temperate. The predominantly northern winds, that blow in the summer time, are getting sometimes really strong without however to affect the sea condition. The best period to visit the place is spring and autumn when the nature is gorgeous, and the temperature is to a more comfortable range.
Cave of Itanos Eilithia
The cave of Itanos Eilithiais located at the entrance of the village of Tsoutsouros at the base of the rock. As it was revealed in 1962, this is an important worship center of the Late Minoan period, probably dedicated to the goddess of childbirth,Eilithia, who was worshiped in Crete as a symbol of maternity and fertility. The temples of Eilithia were mainly located in caves, a fact that reveals her long – term worship. It is reported that the worship in caveshad been adjourned for 600 years and then resumed in Roman times. The peak periods of the sanctuary are considered to be the Geometric and Roman times. Nowadays the most important findings of the cave are exhibited at the Archeological Museum of Heraklion.
Very close to the gorge of Tsoutsouras, on its west side lies the gorge of Troullas. It is smaller than that of Tsoutsouras but very impressive too. Anyone who likes waterfalls can count 16 waterfalls in this small gorge, the highest of which is 15 meters. Its geomorphology resembles the Tsoutsouras gorge, as they are very close. Its crossing is quite demanding and only with the appropriate technical equipment of rappelling, while in winter it is certainly more difficult. The entrance is at the area “Meli Lakkos” and its exit at the area “Staoussa”.
The gorge of Mintris River ends up to Tsoutsouros and is approximately 6 km long and begins from Katselliana village in Messasra Plain area. At the length of the gorge, we meet Roman Baths, the Roman Path and many other Roman and Minoan finds. The visitor crossing over Mintris Gorge will have the opportunity of admiring except of the many Roman and Minoan finds inside the gorge, also the natural landscape with the fertility of ground to vary but generally to be characterized as small with only exception the impressive development in the small valleys and glens. In this particular route we meet oleander of approximately 3,5 metres high, osiers and myrtles.
Afterwards, if he descends he will feel the awe of the abrupt slope which leads to the river bed and to the trees of the Mintris gorge. The visitor can stop in approximately half of the street, in the great “perdikoneri” or “perdikonero”, in the cool source which welcomes with its crystal waters and offers its dew to those who honour it.
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The gorge of Mintri is 6 km long; it starts from the settlement of Philippoi, on the east area of Messara and ends to the south sea of Tsoutsouras. Regarding the morphology of the gorge, it is open, without narrow passages, ideal for summer hiking. Along it there are mainly carob trees and a spring of drinking water is found halfway.
One can cross the gorge starting from the middle, where there is the road that leads to Tsoutsouras. The path passes through the riverbed of Mintris.
The area is known for its great archaeological interest, the excavations and the numerous findings that have been revealed. Even within the gorge, near Tsoutsouras, there are remnants of the ancient city of Inatos.
Gorge of Tsoutsouras
The spectacular and steep gorge of Tsoutsouros has its start at the area “Sfakias” and its exit near the settlement Tsoutsouras. The gorge is just 1.5 km but it meets the requirements for canyoning, for those who like this sport and are quite beginners. It is also a challenge even for experienced climbers, as the only way to cross it is by ropes, while there are 12 descents (30 meters). Most of the descents are near the exit of the gorge, where its deepest point is and where the most impressive rock formations are found. For visitors wishing to see the waterfalls in the gorge, spring is the ideal time.
The bridge of the river Mintri is considered to be Roman and is located at the specific point which joins the present “Pera” (remote) Tsoutsouros with Tsoutsouros itself. It could not have been built elsewhere, as this is the narrowest part of the river in this area. Researches have shown that the exact place of the bridge is considered to be at the patio of a church (basilica).
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