With a distinct cultural identity, the regional unit of Heraklion, in the heart of Crete, is a place that brings together every facet of the island. From the fertile expanses of the Mesara plain and the Minoan palaces to the shores of the Libyan Sea and the craggy Asterousia Mountains, the southernmost range in Greece, the scenes shift in striking fashion. Today’s Heraklion coexists with history and with major archaeological sites.
On the southern side of the region rise the Asterousia Mountains. The range looms with a stern, untamed profile, forming one of the island’s most imposing landscapes. Barren peaks suspended above the Libyan Sea, otherworldly vistas, and a region included in the Natura 2000 network with immeasurable ecological and archaeological significance. The Asterousia Mountains are part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the Man and the Biosphere Programme, underscoring the global value of this singular place.
One journey here is enough to slip into a time capsule and uncover the destination’s hidden virtues. This time, your route carries you into the solitude of the village of Ethia, continues along the path to the Monastery of Agios Nikitas, and concludes in Gortyna, the Roman metropolis of Crete.
Ethia: a village with a singular aura
Your tour begins 55 km from the city of Heraklion, in the designated traditional settlement of Ethia, a village that seems poised between past and present. Isolated and almost abandoned, the village’s footprint appears as early as 1577. Cobblestone lanes lead you beneath signature stone arches to old churches, wells, and houses, giving you the sense of a place that once thrummed with life. Today, Ethia, with its tranquil aura, stands as a living testament to the past.
The path to the Monastery of Agios Nikitas
Leaving the village, you continue on a trail that leads you to the Monastery of Agios Nikitas. Built in seclusion and wrapped in nature, the monastery heightens the uniqueness of the experience. Follow the steps below the monastery and you reach a hidden beach for a refreshing swim under the warm rays of the sun.
Gortyna: Crete’s Roman metropolis
Gortyna, set in the fertile Mesara plain, was the Roman metropolis of Crete and the island’s capital during Roman rule. It is one of the most important and largest cities of ancient Crete, flourishing in the Roman era. Surpassing Phaistos in power, it served as a center of authority until it was destroyed by earthquakes.
The archaeological site impresses with its treasures: the Odeon, the Roman baths, the church of Saint Titus, statues, the plane tree of Zeus and Europa, and the famed Gortyn Code, one of the oldest surviving legal texts. Exploring here offers you a deep encounter with history, in a place where traces of the past remain vivid, revealing the grandeur of the Roman city.
A three-dimensional journey
Your journey through the Asterousia Mountains holds the truth of a place, with all its contrasts and memories. The nostalgic aura of the isolated village of Ethia envelops you. You continue along the path to the Monastery of Agios Nikitas and arrive at the grandeur of ancient history in Gortyna. You will experience the soul of this land – its cultural heritage, its nature, and its traditions – in a way that lingers.
Read also:
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