IoannisΟ Ταξιδιωτικός οδηγός του/της
Αξιοθέατα
10 km from Stoloi village.
Gortyna also known as Gortyn was a town of ancient Crete which appears in the Homeric poems under the form of Γορτύν.
This important city was next to Cnossus in importance and splendour; in early times these two great towns had entered into a league which enabled them to reduce the whole of Crete under their power; in after-times when dissensions arose among them they were engaged in continual hostilities.
Classical Greek mythology has it that Gortyn was the site of one of Zeus' many affairs. This myth features the princess Europa, whose name has been applied to the continent, Europe. Disguised as a bull, Zeus abducted Europa from Lebanon and they had an affair under a plane tree (platanus),a tree that may be seen today in Gortys. Following this affair three children were born, Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon, who became the kings of the three Minoan Palaces in Crete. The identification of Europa in this myth gives weight to the claim that the civilization of the European continent was born on the island of Crete.
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Archaeological Site of Gortyna
Γόρτυς10 km from Stoloi village.
Gortyna also known as Gortyn was a town of ancient Crete which appears in the Homeric poems under the form of Γορτύν.
This important city was next to Cnossus in importance and splendour; in early times these two great towns had entered into a league which enabled them to reduce the whole of Crete under their power; in after-times when dissensions arose among them they were engaged in continual hostilities.
Classical Greek mythology has it that Gortyn was the site of one of Zeus' many affairs. This myth features the princess Europa, whose name has been applied to the continent, Europe. Disguised as a bull, Zeus abducted Europa from Lebanon and they had an affair under a plane tree (platanus),a tree that may be seen today in Gortys. Following this affair three children were born, Minos, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon, who became the kings of the three Minoan Palaces in Crete. The identification of Europa in this myth gives weight to the claim that the civilization of the European continent was born on the island of Crete.
33 km from Stoloi village.
A safe natural harbour on the Bay of Messara, blessed with a gently sweeping sand and pebble beach, the place in legend where Zeus swam ashore in the guise of a bull with Europa on his back.
The beach is 250m long and 45m wide.
Matala has something for everyone. Although it has become a popular tourist destination it still retains the charm and character of the quiet fishing village it started as at the beginning of the 20th-century, and the laid-back lifestyle of the hippies of the 60’s and 70's lives on. Half the beach is fringed by tamarisk trees, leading the eye on to impressive formations of sandstone rock cliffs with their famous caves sliding into the sea at an odd angle, creating one of the most unusual beachscapes on the island.
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Matala Caves
33 km from Stoloi village.
A safe natural harbour on the Bay of Messara, blessed with a gently sweeping sand and pebble beach, the place in legend where Zeus swam ashore in the guise of a bull with Europa on his back.
The beach is 250m long and 45m wide.
Matala has something for everyone. Although it has become a popular tourist destination it still retains the charm and character of the quiet fishing village it started as at the beginning of the 20th-century, and the laid-back lifestyle of the hippies of the 60’s and 70's lives on. Half the beach is fringed by tamarisk trees, leading the eye on to impressive formations of sandstone rock cliffs with their famous caves sliding into the sea at an odd angle, creating one of the most unusual beachscapes on the island.
25 km from Stoloi village.
Phaestus (Phestos, Festos, Φαιστός) was a Minoan city on Crete. The palace of Phaestus was built on a low of the plain of Messara, with panoramic views to the surrounding area. It is the second largest Minoan palace after Knossos and occupies an area of 1.8 hectares.
The city was already inhabited since 6000BC and prospered concurrently with the city of Knossos, till the 1st century BC. Phaestus is famous for the Minoan palace, which is a visitable archaeological site and receives thousands of visitors every year. It was built in about 2000BC, according to the legend, by Minos, the king of Knossos. The palace’s king was the brother of Minos, the mythical Rhadamanthys, who was the second son of Zeus and Europe and was known for his faireness. Indeed, he is considered the writer of the Cretan Code, the first standards of Justice.
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Phaistos Minoan Palace
Eparchiaki Odos Faistou - Kalon Limenon25 km from Stoloi village.
Phaestus (Phestos, Festos, Φαιστός) was a Minoan city on Crete. The palace of Phaestus was built on a low of the plain of Messara, with panoramic views to the surrounding area. It is the second largest Minoan palace after Knossos and occupies an area of 1.8 hectares.
The city was already inhabited since 6000BC and prospered concurrently with the city of Knossos, till the 1st century BC. Phaestus is famous for the Minoan palace, which is a visitable archaeological site and receives thousands of visitors every year. It was built in about 2000BC, according to the legend, by Minos, the king of Knossos. The palace’s king was the brother of Minos, the mythical Rhadamanthys, who was the second son of Zeus and Europe and was known for his faireness. Indeed, he is considered the writer of the Cretan Code, the first standards of Justice.
26 km from Stoloi village.
The lake is the largest craftsman in the prefecture. The environment around it has now developed and the landscape is beautiful, green and ideal for an excursion. The landscape helps of course and the fact that the forest of Rouvas and the spring Votomos are within walking distance.
At the lake you can walk, sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery, see the fauna and flora and eat your food, either in one of the taverns there, or you can keep your own and enjoy it at one of the wooden tables that are available around the lake.
Access is easy by vehicle to a good country road, which in many places is quite narrow, but without becoming dangerous.
Nature lovers can start from the lake and end up after a hike (about 2 hours) in the forest of Rouvas. The route is magnificent through the gorge of Ag. Nikolaou.
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Lake Votomos
26 km from Stoloi village.
The lake is the largest craftsman in the prefecture. The environment around it has now developed and the landscape is beautiful, green and ideal for an excursion. The landscape helps of course and the fact that the forest of Rouvas and the spring Votomos are within walking distance.
At the lake you can walk, sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery, see the fauna and flora and eat your food, either in one of the taverns there, or you can keep your own and enjoy it at one of the wooden tables that are available around the lake.
Access is easy by vehicle to a good country road, which in many places is quite narrow, but without becoming dangerous.
Nature lovers can start from the lake and end up after a hike (about 2 hours) in the forest of Rouvas. The route is magnificent through the gorge of Ag. Nikolaou.
Παραλίες
35 km from Stoloi village.
In front of the village there is the small port of the area. To the east and west of the port are formed two large leeward bays with a total length of 2 km, with coarse sand and clear sea. The beach is organized with umbrellas, but also several tamarisk trees.
Swimming in Tsoutsouros has been considered healing and healing since antiquity. According to the locals, many doctors recommend swimming to Tsoutsura for those who have musculoskeletal and orthopedic problems.
Tsoutsouras is an area that hides energy and still lives with the strong presence of myths and folk tales, fairy tales about dragons, beasts, with stories about illegal excavations of the past, but also modern fantasy stories and paradoxes. In ancient Anatos, for many centuries, in the cave located in the area, Eilithia, the goddess of childbirth, was worshiped.
West of Tsoutsoura begins the main body of the Asterousia Mountains, which embrace to the south the fertile plain of Messara. According to mythological tradition, King Asterion raised these three sons of Zeus (Minos, Radamanthi and Sarpidona) in these mountains, who later reigned in Knossos, Phaistos and Malia, respectively, thus building the first great European civilization , the Minoan.
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Tsoutsouros
35 km from Stoloi village.
In front of the village there is the small port of the area. To the east and west of the port are formed two large leeward bays with a total length of 2 km, with coarse sand and clear sea. The beach is organized with umbrellas, but also several tamarisk trees.
Swimming in Tsoutsouros has been considered healing and healing since antiquity. According to the locals, many doctors recommend swimming to Tsoutsura for those who have musculoskeletal and orthopedic problems.
Tsoutsouras is an area that hides energy and still lives with the strong presence of myths and folk tales, fairy tales about dragons, beasts, with stories about illegal excavations of the past, but also modern fantasy stories and paradoxes. In ancient Anatos, for many centuries, in the cave located in the area, Eilithia, the goddess of childbirth, was worshiped.
West of Tsoutsoura begins the main body of the Asterousia Mountains, which embrace to the south the fertile plain of Messara. According to mythological tradition, King Asterion raised these three sons of Zeus (Minos, Radamanthi and Sarpidona) in these mountains, who later reigned in Knossos, Phaistos and Malia, respectively, thus building the first great European civilization , the Minoan.
31 km from Stoloi village.
It is a very long sandy beach, organised with umbrellas, coffee bars and restaurants.
Caretta caretta sea turtles lay their eggs in this huge sandy beach during the summer months, hence the activity of ecological organizations.
37 Einheimische empfehlen
Kokkinos Pirgos
Kokkinou31 km from Stoloi village.
It is a very long sandy beach, organised with umbrellas, coffee bars and restaurants.
Caretta caretta sea turtles lay their eggs in this huge sandy beach during the summer months, hence the activity of ecological organizations.