Other Excursions from Iráklion

There are many interesting places worth visiting near the city of Herakleion.

Related Attractions

Amnisós

Seven km/4.25mi east of Iráklion, at Amnisós, are the remains of a two-story Minoan villa decorated with frescoes and a harbor building, both dating from around 1660 B.C.

3km/2mi farther east are the well preserved remains of a Minoan villa at the ancient port of Nírou Kháni, with a shrine of the double axe.

Eileithyia Cave

The Eileithyia Cave lies one km south of Amnisós. It was sacred to Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth and the cave was used for cult rituals from the Neolithic era up to the fifth century B.C. Archeological investigations here uncovered idols of woman in the act of giving birth, nursing or praying, figures of animals, Neolithic shells and tools.

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Arkhanes, Greece

15km/9.5mi south of Iráklion lies the little town of Arkhánes, noted for its rozakí table grapes. Sporadic excavations have shown that this was a place of some importance in Minoan times.

Arkhánes (Archanes) Archeological Collection, Archaeological Site of Phourni

The collection contains finds from the Malia palace, the Fourni cemetery and the Anemospilia sanctuary. Many of the finds date from the Minoan era.

The Fourni archeological site, a minoan necropolis, dates back up to fou thousand years.

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Anemóspilia

At Anemóspilia, in the foothills of the Holy Mountain of Yiouchta, was discovered a Minoan sanctuary sacred to Arkhanes and Knossos.

Vathypetro, Greece

Four km/2.5mi south of Arkhánes, at Vathypetro, is a large Minoan villa, the center of a considerable estate.

Kameres Cave, Greece

The cave of Kamares lies to the northeast of the town of the same name. Historically the cave has been known as a sacred area. Some archeological finds from the cave are on display at the Archeological Museum in Herakleion.

Access to the cave is by foot and requires a hike.

Fodele

Fodele, 29km west of Herakleion, is the birthplace of the famous painter El Greco (Domenicos Theotokopoulos) in 1545. A picturesque village hidden in a verdant valley studded with orange groves and plane trees.

Presentation of the Virgin Church, Skotini, Greece

At Skotini, about 1 km northwest of Fodele, the little church of the Presentation of the Virgin (Issodia tis Theotokou) is built on the site of an older church of the 11th or 12th century.

Aghia Paraskevi Skotinou Cave

The cave of Aghia Paraskevi Skotinou outside Herakleion is thought to have been used for cult worship during ancient times.

Krassi - Kardiotissa Monastery

Near Krassi, west of Agios Nikolaos, is the Monastery of Kardiotissa, dedicated to the Virgin of Kera.

Levina

Excavations at Levina brought to light a sanctuary of Asclepios and Minoan vaulted tombs.

Káto Simi

A sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite dating from the Greek-Roman era has been uncovered at Káto Simi.

Picture - Ferry boat in the harbor at Simi.

Picture - Town on the Greek Island of Simi.

Picture - View of the Simi Harbor on Simi Island.

Picture - Tower on the waterfront of Simi Island.

Lyttos

Archeological investigations uncovered finds from a big city of the Greek-Roman era at the Cretan city of Lyttos.

Vrondissi Monastery

About 56km southwest of Herakleion is the Monastery of Vrondissi, with a fountain carved in relief (15th C.) at the entrance to the garden and a panoramic view.