Lassithi plateau
Description
LASSITHI PLATEAU
The Lassithi plateau is located 70 km east of Iraklion, the largest city of Crete, at an altitude of 840 m. One visit will make you observe aspects of the Cretan life that usually don’t exist in areas close to the beach or in cities. Ascending to the plateau you will have the chance to take panoramic photos of Malia and Chersonisos. The first place you can visit before arriving at the plateau is the monastery of Kera Kardiotissa (Lady of the heart).
The monastery is located at an altitude of 650 m, at the slopes of the mountain Dikti. The exact year of its construction is unknown, but it must have been at the beginning of the 13th century. The name “Kera Kardiotissa” comes from an old icon of the monastery depicting Mary holding baby Jesus. The icon is considered miraculous because it was stolen during the iconoclastic period, but it returned back to the monastery on its own. Inside the church, there are frescoes of the 14th-15th century, which are archaeologically interesting.
Moving on higher you pass through the plateau and notice some of the thousands of windmills that covered the area two centuries ago. There were about 10.000 windmills at that time that were used by the locals to irrigate their land. Nowadays most of them are abandoned and only a few are still preserved. Arrive at the village of Psychro (cold), at the mythical “Diktaion Andron” (Diktaean cave), the birthplace of Zeus. The Diktaean (or Psychro) cave is located at an altitude of 1025 m. There is a parking area before the entrance and a coffee shop, where you can relax and enjoy a panoramic view. The path to the cave can be a little tiring since it is an uphill road that requires around 20 minutes walking. But it is definitely worth it because the inside of the cave is impressive. There is a big number of stalagmites and stalactites at its lowest point, a sight not to be missed. Archaeologically, the cave was used as a sanctuary during the Minoan period and many of its findings are located in the Archeological Museum of Iraklion.
Having learned about the religion of Greece and the mythology of Zeus in the amazing cave, there will be a stop at the area of Seli Ampelou, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the plateau, with its old windmills and the natural scenery, along with a traditional lunch in a taverna (optional).
The last place of the tour is the traditional small village of Krasi. The village is located 9 km south of the village of Malia, at the slopes of the mountain of Selena. Its organization is of a typical small traditional village, a small square on its center and the houses around it. What makes the Krasi village special, however, is the huge ancient “Platanos” (plane tree), located at the center of the square. It is considered one of the oldest trees in the Mediterranean sea and it offers its refreshing shade all across the square. Combining the beauty of the tree with the traditional fountains, cafes, and shops in the square of the village, all these create a calm unspoiled scenery that will soothe you and reveal to you the real essence of Crete.
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Description
LASSITHI PLATEAU
The Lassithi plateau is located 70 km east of Iraklion, the largest city of Crete, at an altitude of 840 m. One visit will make you observe aspects of the Cretan life that usually don’t exist in areas close to the beach or in cities. Ascending to the plateau you will have the chance to take panoramic photos of Malia and Chersonisos. The first place you can visit before arriving at the plateau is the monastery of Kera Kardiotissa (Lady of the heart).
The monastery is located at an altitude of 650 m, at the slopes of the mountain Dikti. The exact year of its construction is unknown, but it must have been at the beginning of the 13th century. The name “Kera Kardiotissa” comes from an old icon of the monastery depicting Mary holding baby Jesus. The icon is considered miraculous because it was stolen during the iconoclastic period, but it returned back to the monastery on its own. Inside the church, there are frescoes of the 14th-15th century, which are archaeologically interesting.
Moving on higher you pass through the plateau and notice some of the thousands of windmills that covered the area two centuries ago. There were about 10.000 windmills at that time that were used by the locals to irrigate their land. Nowadays most of them are abandoned and only a few are still preserved. Arrive at the village of Psychro (cold), at the mythical “Diktaion Andron” (Diktaean cave), the birthplace of Zeus. The Diktaean (or Psychro) cave is located at an altitude of 1025 m. There is a parking area before the entrance and a coffee shop, where you can relax and enjoy a panoramic view. The path to the cave can be a little tiring since it is an uphill road that requires around 20 minutes walking. But it is definitely worth it because the inside of the cave is impressive. There is a big number of stalagmites and stalactites at its lowest point, a sight not to be missed. Archaeologically, the cave was used as a sanctuary during the Minoan period and many of its findings are located in the Archeological Museum of Iraklion.
Having learned about the religion of Greece and the mythology of Zeus in the amazing cave, there will be a stop at the area of Seli Ampelou, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the plateau, with its old windmills and the natural scenery, along with a traditional lunch in a taverna (optional).
The last place of the tour is the traditional small village of Krasi. The village is located 9 km south of the village of Malia, at the slopes of the mountain of Selena. Its organization is of a typical small traditional village, a small square on its center and the houses around it. What makes the Krasi village special, however, is the huge ancient “Platanos” (plane tree), located at the center of the square. It is considered one of the oldest trees in the Mediterranean sea and it offers its refreshing shade all across the square. Combining the beauty of the tree with the traditional fountains, cafes, and shops in the square of the village, all these create a calm unspoiled scenery that will soothe you and reveal to you the real essence of Crete.