View Point

Pilalimata is an old small village south of Pefkoi, a continuance of Analypsi, which is on the way to Sitia and about 1000m far from the seacoast, the beaches of Diaskari and Lagkadas.According to tradition its legacy started prior to the sovereignty of the Turks; yet it is not known for a fact who founded the village. In line again with tradition it is widely believed that the Byzantines have seized large territories of land that was occupied by Saracens and built northeast of Pilalimata the great monastery of Kera Panagia (Virgin Mary). Following native population built a metochi (Monastery Dependency) 350m away from the Abbey, where they produced livestock and cultivated land for living. During the Venetian rule it is said that a large number of the region’s properties and part of the monastery was granted to Venetian settlers; others say that Pillalimata was built by the Venetians, but after the destruction of the monastery by the Turks in 1941.

The landscape of the village is flat, and the land known for its fruitfulness; that is mainly the reason that this particular estate was always a property of high ranking officials of the conquerors, Byzantines, Venetians and Turks. The greater region of the village is also referred to the Byzantine Loukas Litinas or Lithinas, whose descendants are believed to be the residents of the nearby village "Lithines". Pilalimata was his tsifliki (private estate), and he was left in history as one of the most dreadful tyrants that the region has seen.

It is alleged that the name Pillalimata comes from the word ‘lima’ which means profit or taken from somewhere. It is also said that the village’s name comes from the word ‘limata or pola pila’ (muddy); a product of geological phenomena caused by a nearby river. Others say that the village was named after a Turkish ‘Aga’ (Ruler), whose name was Pilalis. During the Greek Independence war on 1897 the village was destroyed by fire, and four Turks were killed. Residents of Pefkoi collected the debris of three cypresses, and built onto it the temple of the Orthodox church of the Three Hierarchs.

Πηγή:

«Πεύκοι “Τόπος και Ιστορία”», Γεωργίου Θ. Καναβάκη (Καναβογιώργη), Έκδοση Κοινότητας Πεύκων, Ιούλιος – Αύγουστος 1994

Church of St George of Samakidis

South-east of the village in a distance of 3,5 kilometres and another so long from the settlement of Analypsis is found the little church of St George which in the past was known as Monastery of Samakidis.

It is built under a cavernal precipice at the point where history reports that there was a hermitage of nuns. Writings regarding the Temple or the monastery have not been found. Probably any writings were disappeared at the long-lasting possession of Turks. Tradition and history report that in 1471 A.D. by the raid of Turks most villages of Sitia province and Abbeys were destroyed. «…»

Πηγή:

«Πεύκοι “Τόπος και Ιστορία”», Γεωργίου Θ. Καναβάκη (Καναβογιώργη), Έκδοση Κοινότητας Πεύκων, Ιούλιος – Αύγουστος 1994

Prospilia is a relatively new settlement in the area. It is built 500 m north of the seacoast on the road from Analypsis to Pefkoi. The development started in 1970 and is still growing.

The name Prospilia is given to that area as there are many tiny caves of white stones. Prospilia, ASprospilia, Aspra Spilea (White Caves) is the conversion of the words describing the characteristics of the area.

Πηγή:

«Πεύκοι “Τόπος και Ιστορία”», Γεωργίου Θ. Καναβάκη (Καναβογιώργη), Έκδοση Κοινότητας Πεύκων, Ιούλιος – Αύγουστος 1994

In the early years, Analypsis was a settlement of the former Community of Pefkoi. Its development began in 1956 in the area north of the beach.

Initially the settlement was built east of the port of Makry Gialos but due to the growth, it quickly joined with the settlement of Makry Gialos. Furthermore the area took the name of Makry Gialos and today forms the Municipality of Makry Gialos.

The main reason for the foundation and growth of the settlement was the opening of the road from Ierapetra to Sitia in 1956 and the cultivation of precocious horticultural since 1957.

In 1961 for the first time the area was reported in official documents as Analypsis and the 4th inventory department of Community of Pefkoi. In 1971-72 the development begun and the road network was improved. As a result tourists appeared and small cottages became rooms for rental by tourists, bungalows were built, shops and then the first big hotel which attracted more tourists.

At present permanent residents of Analypsis exceed 2000 while the summer months the population is increased by locals and tourists.

For accommodation, there are plenty of rented rooms, hotels, villas. Furthermore super markets, restaurants, cafes, car rental businesses are present and a lot of relevant shops that can cover visitors’ requirements.

In front of the settlement unfolds the clean and rewarded with the blue flag, sea of Lybikon with the beautiful and spectacular beach of Makry Gialos.

The sea and the sandy beach from the south, the panoramic and green mountains with beautiful slopes from the north, combined with the sun, fresh air of mountains and sea, make the settlement of Analypsis and Makry Gialos in ideal place for holidays.

During summer, on a daily basis, buses occupied by Greek and overseas tourists arrive at Pefkoi village, where they walk through the alleys by taking photos of village and the surrounding area. Every visitor expresses their admiration to the locals for the beauty of the village, and then leave the place by walking through the path west of the village to Analypsis (village which nowadays is joined with the Municipality of Makry Gialos after the rapid growth of the second. ).

Walkers on their way to Analypsis, enjoy the natural beauties of the place, the sun, fresh and full of aroma air of countryside, the mountains and the sea. Beginning from the village, they pass through the olive groves and they pass from the abandoned ‘Ilias’ watermill’ as it is known today. Historic reports referring watermill as abandoned since the years of Saracen Arabs up to the years of sovereignty of Turks, where a chased man from Messara, whose surname was Lantzanis, rebuilt the watermill. The mill in its history was operated by various owners until 1915, with the last owner to be Ilias N. Kanabakis. Apart from grinding cereals Ilias used the mill to process olives in an olive press that he had made for olive oil production. Around 1925 watermill once again was abandoned as the waterflow for the operation of the mill was not enough.

After the watermill, follows the attractive and scenery Gorge of Pefkoi. Its length is about 1000 m, width is an average of 90 m and depth from 10 to 120 m. It is full of pines, platens, locusts, hollies and other forestall plants

At the exit to the south, walkers can taste drinkable spring water. Its fauna during the past was very rich but today only a few is remaining due to continuous deterioration from locals and foreigners. The photographing can become from everywhere with different background each time. Nowadays a pathway has been opened that leads from the gorge entrance to the exit.

Next to the exit of Gorge follows the area known as Megali Lagada (big valley) of ‘Pisokamino’. The slopes are covered mainly by pines and various trees. Continuing on the pathway is an area called ‘Volakas tou Sarakinou’ about 500 metres north of the settlement ‘Aspros Potamos’ (White River). History of ‘Volakas tou Sarakinou’ says that when Saracens invaded in Crete, the locals found a Saracen hiding under a big rock and killed him. From that time this rock was named ‘Volakas tou Sarakinou’. This rock’s top surface is a bit level with a small inclination where there are many stones of a size of an egg. These have become object of observation and query of foreigner passerby, how the stones are placed there and how they remain on the rock. Locals relate this to the difficulties of poor people due to the wars, the raids and other conditions of earlier years. Starvation was their main problem and when hungry children were passing by the rock, were throwing stones to the top of the rock. If the stones remained on top and not rolled down, kids were leaving from the place, with the impression that when they arrive at their homes they will find to eat plenty of food. The opposite would happen if the stone rolled down. Therefore it is believed that the remaining stones on the rock were thrown by the kids.

After that big rock, the pathway connects to the main road, and after the valley of Pisokamino, reaches the attractive settlement of Aspros Potamos (White River).

The same road leads to Analypsis and Makry Gialos, the best tourist place of southern Prefecture of Lasithi.

Midways of turnpike road to Analypsis, the tourists can visit the small church of formerly Abbey of Saint George of Samakidi that built by the todays honoured Saint, ‘Iosif (Josef) Samakidis’ or ‘Samakos’.

The church is located on a big slope that is covered by pines with other trees. The south of that slope meets with the “Katsoulis’ Gorge” which also has its own beauty.

During that route walkers have the chance to see the beautiful landscape view to meet the endless blue sea of Libykon.

Πηγή:

«Πεύκοι “Τόπος και Ιστορία”», Γεωργίου Θ. Καναβάκη (Καναβογιώργη), Έκδοση Κοινότητας Πεύκων, Ιούλιος – Αύγουστος 1994

Aspros Potamos (White River) is referred to be the oldest settlement of the area of Pefkoi. It is located about 1 km north of the beach of Makry Gialos.

Narrations report that the settlement was wealthy in the past, but because of the close distance from the sea, it was subject to incursions and as a result its residents had to abandon the place and move to the northern areas that were safer for them. It is also reported that the first residents of Pefkoi were the residents of Aspros Potamos. The area can be described as spectacular. The mountains from the North and the valley from the South that reaches the settlement of Analypsis, the stream of Aspros Potamos which crosses the settlement, form a unique landscape.

Most of the old houses of the settlement, which were built from stone and soil, have been refurbished and attract many visitors.

 

Πηγή:

«Πεύκοι “Τόπος και Ιστορία”», Γεωργίου Θ. Καναβάκη (Καναβογιώργη), Έκδοση Κοινότητας Πεύκων, Ιούλιος – Αύγουστος 1994

Church of St James (St Dimitrios)

In Pilalimata, in the decade of 1980 Mr Georgios Dermitzakis from the village of Lapithos and his spouse Ekaterini Ioannou Chatzakis from Agios Stefanos offered a big part of their land and a respectable amount of money for building the temple of Saint Dimitrios. After their death construction of the temple was carried out by the residents of Pilalimata and others from the nearby areas, with the priest Emmanuel Chatzakis being the organizer of their endeavour. Finally the opening ceremony was held on the 26th-10-1993.

Πηγή:

«Πεύκοι “Τόπος και Ιστορία”», Γεωργίου Θ. Καναβάκη (Καναβογιώργη), Έκδοση Κοινότητας Πεύκων, Ιούλιος – Αύγουστος 1994