Herakleion to Áyii Déka (Aghioi Deka)
Iráklion via Górtys, Phaistós and Ayía Triáda to Mátala. Leave Iráklion on the road which runs west to Réthymnon, and in 2km/1.25mi take a road on the left, going south. 31km/19mi: Ayía Varvára, a large village.
Beyond this the road climbs to the Askyfou pass (700m/2,300ft) and then descends, with magnificent views, into the fertile Mesará plain, with its extensive plantations of olives, oranges, sugar-cane, bananas and other crops. 16km/10mi: Áyii Déka, with a small archeological museum (1km/.75mi southeast).
Beyond this the road climbs to the Askyfou pass (700m/2,300ft) and then descends, with magnificent views, into the fertile Mesará plain, with its extensive plantations of olives, oranges, sugar-cane, bananas and other crops. 16km/10mi: Áyii Déka, with a small archeological museum (1km/.75mi southeast).
|
Must-see attractions nearby:
|
Related Attractions
Read More
Lentas, Greece
(Near Herakleion)
The road continues from Platanós to Léntas (27km/17mi), on the south coast.
Sanctuary of Asklepios
On a terrace above the village is the temple of Asklepios (fourth century B.C., rebuilt in A.D. second century), with brick walls faced externally with undressed stone. Two columns are still erect, with the base of the cult image between them. In front of this, to the right, is a room with a mosaic pavement depicting a sea-horse, below which was the temple treasury. From this room a flight of steps and a stoa led east to the fountain-house containing the healing spring, which still survives.
Farther east is a chapel of St John (11th C., with frescoes of the 14th and 15th C.), built on the foundations of an earlier three-aisled basilica in which stone from ancient buildings was re-used.
(Herakleion to Ayii Deka / Aghioi Deka)
Near Léntas, at Lebéna, is a sanctuary of Asklepios founded by Gortys in the fourth century B.C. round a thermal spring.On a terrace above the village is the temple of Asklepios (fourth century B.C., rebuilt in A.D. second century), with brick walls faced externally with undressed stone. Two columns are still erect, with the base of the cult image between them. In front of this, to the right, is a room with a mosaic pavement depicting a sea-horse, below which was the temple treasury. From this room a flight of steps and a stoa led east to the fountain-house containing the healing spring, which still survives.
Farther east is a chapel of St John (11th C., with frescoes of the 14th and 15th C.), built on the foundations of an earlier three-aisled basilica in which stone from ancient buildings was re-used.
Áyii Déka - Platanós
6.5km/4 mi south of the village of Áyii Déka, at Platanós, is the largest tholos tomb on Crete, with an internal diameter of 13m/43ft.
