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The Astrakiano gorge (or gorge of Karteros) is one of the longest gorges in the region, with a total length of about 12,5 km. The entrance is after the settlement of Kato Astrakoi and its exit is in Mesa Karteros, a recreational area situated in a site of exceptional beauty. There is also a parking area, where we suggest you leave your car so you can continue your route to the beach of Karteros. The gorge is crossed by the river Karteros. There is a well-marked walking trail and the total duration of the route is about 3.30 hours. There used to be 10 watermills in the gorge and the locals were fishing eels and crabs in the river.The route in Astrakiano Gorge (or Gorge of Karteros)You can reach the village of Astrakoi by bus from Heraklion (18.5 km) and from the village of Myrtia. In the village you will find mini markets and coffee shops. On the eastern extremity of the settlement, and specifically on the central plateau, starts the road that leads to the abandoned settlement of Kato Astrakoi, 2 km away. The village of Kato Astrakoi was abandoned in the beginning of the year 1930. From there, follow the downhill path that leads to the gorge (10 min walking). On the side of the path you will see the ruins of a Basilica, dedicated to Saint George (Aghios Georgios). It is a Byzantine Basilica with three sections. 100 meters further from the Basilica stands the church of Mary (Panaghia), featuring a unique symbol of the Byzantine two-headed eagle over its windows. A bit further from the church of Aghios Georgios you will find a north intersection leading to an olive grove, where you will find a path with stone stairs that leads into the gorge, in the position of "Neraidospilo". Look for the signs. The path crosses the entire gorge of Karteros, where you will see beautiful churches, watermills and a rest house of the Byzantine period.Walking down the gorge, you will encounter a stone-built water reservoir, and a 3 min walk from there you will see the cave "Neraidospilo" (fairy cave). It is a natural cave associated with many legends about fairies and witches. Nowadays, the cave has been constructed and its entrance is closed with a gate, so you cannot visit it. Deep in the cave there is a water spring. The landscape around the cave is wonderful, with a small artificial lake, wild vegetation and a relaxing environment. In the gorge, follow the path by the river of Karteros until you reach the bridge of Aitania. The path often crosses the closed pipe of the aqueduct. A wooden construction covers the closed pipe of the aqueduct, in order to protect it. Small lakes, watermills, small waterfalls and the sounds of nature (frogs, birds, wind blowing through the trees) will accompany your route.One hour and twenty minutes away from your starting point (the cave "Neraidospilo") you will reach the open area of the bridge of Aitania, characterized by fields and dirt roads that lead to the bridge. This bridge connects the village of Skalani with the one of Aitania. The last 20 minutes of walking on the trail are especially beautiful. Moving away from the gorge, you will continue your route uphill the east wall of the gorge. The view from this point is breathtaking. Skip the bridge and move north, following the signs in order to find again the walking trail that will take you back into the gorge. 10 minutes later you will encounter the intersection that leads to the village of Kounavoi to the west, through the homonym gorge (kounaviano gorge).Continue walking with a direction to the north, passing by old watermills, water pipes and small lakes. In one hour you will arrive at the end of the route, in the location "Mesa Karteros", where you will find an information kiosk and a beautiful recreational area. Just before the end of the route, you will see the two chapels of Aghios Nikolaos. In the first chapel of Aghios Nikolaos you will also see the ruins of watermills. A wooden door marks the entrance to the gorge. Close the door behind you and follow the path down to the rover bank, where you will encounter the Byzantine rest house on your left, and further you will reach the recreational area of "Mesa Karteros". Here you will see the second chapel of Aghios Nikolaos and a ruined settlement. You can read more information about the gorge and its monuments on the information sign and map placed there. There is also a parking area there, where you can leave your car and drive to N. Alikarnassos or to the beach of Karteros.
At an altitude of 244 meters and a distance of about 10 km the road Iraklion - Viannos (detour from the new highway after BI. IP. Heraklion) is the Skalani Kallikratous belonging to the Municipality of Heraklion.
For the first time the name of the village is found in deed of 1271 and also in several papers in the next few years until the first Venetian census of 1577 From this inventory and then find it in all subsequent incurred to date, integrated in different municipalities according to the administrative reforms of each season.
It is a village with a strong presence in history and tradition in Heraklion, rich vineyard and olive products and industrious and hospitable people.
The Skalani is the last village in Crete that stopped the resistance during the battle and the paratroopers who gave the first "official" victims execution Patriots (Archimandrite Theodossakis and other patriots) in the fight against the German invaders.
In 1980, a research professor at the University of Crete Th. Detoraki, notarial documents in the State Archives of Venice, brought to light at "Aposami" a forgotten monastery of St. Minas (unique throughout the island as far as we know) in Skalani that according to oral tradition was resident bishop of Crete for some years.
The evidence we have for this comes from two legal documents (October 14, 1598 and January 14, 1627) from the records of the Candia notary Nicolas Negri. Sorry, we have no further information on the fate of the monastery after 1627.
It seems that the monastery remained in operation perhaps shortly after the fall of Candia (1669). Today the ruins of the monastery stand at approximately 1500 meters east of the village. The name still sounds today "Agios Minas" and the devotion of the residents maintain the rubble a small shrine in honor of the Saint.
Today the village is full of life and growth. It features traditional and modern shops, butchers, hairdressers, salons, clinics, pharmacies, services, winery , raki, focal centers - restaurants, taverns, ouzo and meze , constituting a "small Heraklion" in the Region of Heraklion.
The active Cultural Association of the village organizes a number of events in stable and recurring basis, such as two-day festival in celebration of St. John (August 29) with a procession of the image of the Holy (accompanying the Municipal band) and traditional music festival, function and expression in the chapel of Agios Nikolaos in Siganou, festival of Agia Irini in Santorini (May 5), feast of Our Lady (August 15), Halloween events, musical evenings and other summers.
The visitors can visit several places of natural beauty ( Siganos mill , Agios Minas in "Aposami" , etc.) or to follow natural paths as in Canyon of Karteros - Skalani with recreation area next to the wooden bridge, the pine forest of Agia Irini in Spilia and more. Visitation is also the very well organized «Vegetable municipal garden» in the village.
Is Great accommodation in the village square with its picturesque cafes , from where a sound traditional music and the village has a large and famous traditional musicians, authors and artists (Abyssinia, Vassilakis Papadoperakis Thomas and Aspasia, etc..).
http://rural-heraklion.gr/
About a kilometre Southeast of the village Skalani, Heraklion in the region which bears the name Aposami is that today survives from the medieval monastery of Agios Minas.
Built in an extremely fertile area surrounded by vineyards and olive groves endures until today the fate of abandonment and desolation as so many unknown monuments and treasures of this place.
Among tulips and other flowers that grow in the area of stands today without roof and walls that their wounds are not hiding ... more It is the only monastery that has been recorded in Crete where whoever celebrates the Agios Minas and the oral tradition it wants to play a great role having been residence of Metropolitan of Crete. The Agios Minas remained forgotten by everyone until the 1980s when a research professor, University of Crete, Theocharis Detorakis in notary documents ofState Archives of Venice brought out of the shadows into the light.
There is a testimony of 1598 lent the monastery's lands for cultivation and a second, more important of 1627 that informs us that the monastery has collapsed which causes the Piero Salamon to take steps to repair the damage. After 1627 we have no testimony to St. Minas and the Turkish invasion of the island would have had the same path with many other monasteries that were destroyed and depopulated.
http://rural-heraklion.gr/
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