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Places near Karnari
The special characteristic landscape of the region that is also its landmark is mount Giouchta. It is visible from the 3/4 of the prefecture of Heraklion. The perimeter line that separates Giouchta from other areas is clear, has a length of about 12300 meters and goes through the areas of Aoraki and Myristi in the north, Diporto and Spilio in the south, Rousos Gremos, Platia Peza, Kalogrado, Kelia and Chalikia in the west, and finally Aoraki Plai and Kaki Skala, Myristis Chonos, Petrokefalo, Anemospilio, Mandraki, Ortho Poro, Chosto Nero and Mari Poro in the east. This area that includes the main area of the mountain is 1000 acres and belongs entirely in the Municipality of Archanes.It is a mountainous landscape, with very steep slopes and an altitude of 811 meters. The rocks that prevail are limestone of the Tripoli order. Extensive farms of vines and olive trees surround it. It is a particularly important archaeological region, in which human activities are continued perpetually from the Neolithic age. Typical Mediterranean vegetation prevails, however clumps from cypresses and pines that emanate from plantings of trees also exist. In the two higher mountaintops exist a telecommunication device and a church.Mount Giouchta, (altitude 811 meters) apart from its great historical and archaeological value also possesses a very important ecological role in the wider region. This role has to do with hydrologic flow, protection of the ground and climate normalization. Finally, it has also to do with flora and fauna protection, because the mountain is one of the last shelters for wild life that is threatened by the increase of irrigated areas in the Prefecture of Heraklion.Giouchta has been characterized as a reforested area (1969), as a Landscape of Particular Natural Beauty (1970) and it is a protected archaeological site (1980). It has also been included in the European Network NATURA 2000, for the conservation of natural ecosystems as well as wild flora and fauna. 61% of the mountain’s wild birds are protected from international conventions and 8% are included in the Red Book of Threatened Vertebrates of Greece.In addition, because of the presence of an important vulture colony, mount Giouchta has been nominated (1982) as an Important Biotope in European Level and later it was mentioned in the list for the International Bird Biotopes (Grimmet and Jones 1989) and the Greek Bird Society (EOE 1994). The region also has other infrequent or endemic plants and other species and this is why it is included in the European Union list of Important Biotopes for Natural Conservation in Europe (list of Corine Biotopes).
Access to Giouchtas hill:
A. By footBeginning from the central square of the village one can walk towards the top of the mountain. It will last roughly 1 hour. It is an impressive walk through flowers one can see the Cretan orchids in spring. The small church of Lord Christ is found on top. From this particular point the view of the village and that of the wider region is amazing. B. By carArchanes - Top of mount GiouchtaThere is a 4,2 km road to the top of mount Giouchta. After that 2 paths exist. One leads to the Lord Christ church and the other to Psili Korfi that the pagan top is found. . From there the path continues for Alonaki and Anemospilia.
www.archanes.gr
Access to Giouchtas hill:
A. By footBeginning from the central square of the village one can walk towards the top of the mountain. It will last roughly 1 hour. It is an impressive walk through flowers one can see the Cretan orchids in spring. The small church of Lord Christ is found on top. From this particular point the view of the village and that of the wider region is amazing. B. By carArchanes - Top of mount GiouchtaThere is a 4,2 km road to the top of mount Giouchta. After that 2 paths exist. One leads to the Lord Christ church and the other to Psili Korfi that the pagan top is found. . From there the path continues for Alonaki and Anemospilia.
www.archanes.gr
Ancient authors believed the sacred, anthropomorphic Mount Juktas or Giouchtas to be the tomb of Zeus. It has four sacred caves, one at each point of the horizon. In the Minoan period these were places of sacrifice, ceremonies and food storage.
Their common feature is that they are comprised of many interconnected chambers.The cave chasm of the Juktas SanctuaryThis is a narrow fissure 12 metres deep which communicates with smaller cavities. It is located at “Tou Zia to Mnima” (“the Tomb of Zeus”) at the centre of the Minoan peak sanctuary, at an altitude of 720 m. Countless offerings of the Middle and Late Minoan periods were discovered here, together with dedicatory inscriptions in Linear A script.Chosto NeroThis cave is also 720 m above sea level, on the southernmost peak of the sacred mountain. It consists of three chambers and corridors containing stalactites and stalagmites resembling human figures, causing the Minoans to use the cave as a place of worship. This is demonstrated by the many ancient potsherds and statuettes discovered here in recent years.
Stravomyti Cave This is on the north side of Mount Juktas and is easily spotted due to its many cliffside openings.The rich finds from this cave justify the hypothesis that is was used in every historical period, even Neolithic times, as the skull of a small child was found in a Neolithic vessel discovered here. This is the most distinctive cave on the mountain, with many chambers and passages on at least two levels. Its passages are estimated to extend roughly 400 m in total, although it remains unexplored.AnemospiliaThese “Caves of the Wind” are cracks in the solid limestone rock, 440 m high on the NNW slope of Mount Juktas. Their name is due to their position: facing north, they are exposed to the strong north winds. The excavations by the Sakellarakis husband-and-wife team have brought to light fragments of libation vessels bearing dedicatory inscriptions in Linea
South of Archanes we find the archaeological site of Vathipetro, which is open daily from 08:00 - 15:00, except Tuesdays. One can visit the settlement of Vathipetro going south the central street. In about 1km distance the settlement is found and the visitor can relax there. The Minoan villa in Vathipetro, came to light by Spyros Marinatos in 1949 and is found in the place Piso Libadia, 4 kilometers south of Archanes. It can be characterized as a “small palace” as it includes central and western courtyard, two floors with exterior walls from hewer stones, small tripartite holy place, a gallery and a storage facility. It was the residence of a local ruler. It was built about in 1550 BC and after its destruction in 1450 BC it was used as a cottage.
In the south wing a grape pressing installation was discovered while oil press was found in the courtyard. A 30 m corridor leads to a lab and ceramic kiln.
Text: www.archanes.gr
Psili Korfi means "high peak" in Greek and may refer to any peak but specifically Juchtas peak sanctuary.A mountain in north-central Crete, Mount Juchtas (also spelled Iuchtas, Iouktas, and a variety of others due to irregular transliteration from Greek) was an important religious site for the Minoan Civilization. Located a few kilometers from the palaces of Knossos and Fourni and the "megaron" at Vathypetro, Mount Juktas was the site of an important peak sanctuary in the Minoan world. At the base of Juchtas, at Anemospilia was also found a site that suggested to some that the Minoans practiced human sacrifice, but the evidence is currently somewhat in question.Mount Juktas is the site of one of the most important peak sanctuaries in the Minoan world. It is also probably the first of the peak sanctuaries. Archaeologists have studied the site over an extensive period, examining fragments of pottery, remains of walls, and some unique kinds of stone that must have been hauled up the mountain because they do not occur atop the mountain.The mountain remains important in the religious life of the people of the area up to this day - a Greek Orthodox chapel is located about a kilometer south of the sanctuary along the ridge of the mountain. Every year, people from towns down in the plains below Mount Juktas bring flowers in procession to the chapel. Yiouchtas was first excavated in 1909 by Sir Arthur Evans.Jutkas can be regarded as an adjunct archaeological site to the important Knossos site a few kilometres distant. Among the finds at the Juktas Minoan peak sanctuary were clay human and animal figurines, stone horns, stone altars, bronze double axes, and both bowls and tables with Linear A inscriptions. See references for a more comprehensive inventory. Pottery sherds from the site date back as far as Middle Minoan IA
Text:Wikipedia
The Landscape of Temenoi: The twin peaks of Roka or Rokka hill dominate the natural landscape of the Municipality of Temenos. The twin peaks "are cut in half like a pomegranate", as the Venetian mechanic Basilicata poetically described them in the 16th century.
The highest peak of Roka is 507m high. The hill Kormos divides the valley between Lykastos and Profitis Elias (Prophet Elias) from the north slopes of Tsaggarakis down to the valley of Aghios Syllas and Foinikia. South from the settlement of Roukani rises the hill Monodentri, reaching an altitude of 800m. Its north foothills are characterized by oak trees (Quercus Infectoria), which are highly valued in the area. To the east stands the mountain of Youchtas, which belongs to the Municipality of Archanes. The west side of the mountain is home to the Griffon Vulture (gypaetus barbatus), also known as Skara in Crete. Its slopes are filled with olive groves and other fields.The river Giofyros, also known as Diakoniaris, crosses the Municipality and creates fertile valleys with abundant vineyards and olive groves. The river passing through the rocky "gates" of Prophet Elias and Tsaggarakis makes a stupendous natural landscape. The river spills into a waterfall in the natural dam in the site of Platani, which used to provide the old watermills with water. In the region of Vitsila, near the ancient city of Lykastos, there is a cave known as "stou Diakou ta Kellia" (the cells of Diakos). It is a worship cave of the Minoan period (Paul Faure, Holy Caves of Crete) and was also used as a cell by a monk in the beginning of the 20th century. It is also home to the badger (Meles arcalus), a mammal only found in Crete.The European E4 route crosses the Municipality of Temenos. Starting from Archanes it crosses the settlements of Vathypetrou, Karnari, Aghia Anna, Vitsila (Lykastos), Kanli Kasteli, a side-river of Giofyros and then continues to Venerato. The walking trail is marked with signs and is recorded in every modern map. One can easily walk in the side trails of the route, following the river of Giofyros (gorge), the route behind Roka, and the trails to Roukani, Karkadiotissa, the Monastery of Astratigos and finally to the Monastery of Epanosifis.
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