Villages

• Gouves
  
• Kato Gouves
  
• Koxari
  
• Skotino
  
• Voritsi
  
• Harasso
  
• Kalo Horio
  
• Anopolis
  
• Pano Vathia
  
• Kato Vathia
  
• Elia
  
• Amnissos - Karteros
  
• Gournes
  
• Kokkini Hani
  

KATO GOUVES

Kato Gouves is a modern tourist resort with a complete tourist infrastructure to meet all demands.
Organised beaches, large modern hotels, family apartments, restaurants, small tavernas, recreation centres, sports centre, shops, car and motorbikes for rent, small ports (marinas) for small boats, in a word Kato Gouves provides everything our visitors require to spend an agreeable and carefree holiday, enjoying the sunshine by day and the thrilling night-life in the numerous bars in the area.
Excavations are still in progress at Vlyhada, a place near the beach, where archaeologists have revealed ancient buildings.
The area of the delta of Aposselemis river (actually a torent), is a stopping- place for migratory birds.

GOUVES

Village and municipality of the district of Pediada in the prefecture of Iraklion at a height of 100 metres above sea-level. It lies twenty kms away from Iraklion, to the right at 17.3 kms on the National Road to Aghios Nikolaos. The village is built on the western flanks of the Ederi hill (322 m.). The name comes from "edera" which means ivy and symbolises affection.
The name Gouves, on the other hand, comes from Gouva and means a hollow in the earth. It also means, in Crete, a hole in which during the middle ages, people stored their wheat.
The earliest reference we have of the village is that of "Guves" in 1387 documents of the Duke’s archives in Chandax. Later on, in 1577, Fr. Barozzi mentions "Guvos" in the district of Pediados, and then "Guves" in the 1583 Register, with 252 inhabitants. Finally, in 1630, Vassilikata refers to "Vuves’.
This is the birthplace of the poet Ioannis Konstantinidis.
There are several outstanding churches in the village, among them: Zoodochos Pigis, Aghios Giorgos, Aghios Ioannis and Panayia (dedicated to the birth of Our Lady).

SKOTINO
At a height of 140m. above sea-level, this village has 142 inhabitants and is 22.5 kms away from Iraklion.
According to the villagers, the name comes from the church of Aghios Nikolaos Skotino at the entrance of a cave.
It was built at the end of the Venetian period. Today an extra wing has been added, dedicated to Aghios Charalambos. This church of Aghios Nikolaos Skotino presumably functioned as a "Hedge School" (or "Hidden School") under Turkish rule when education had been banned. When the locals said: "We are going to Skotino (which also means "darkness")", they meant they were going to school.
Turkish administration refers to this place as Skotino Perasma in 1671.
Very close to the village (1.5 km) the cave of Aghia Paraskevi draws crowds of tourists and is well worth a visit.

VOROU OR VORITSI

Hamlet of the municipality of Gouves, Voritsi lies at a height of 230 m. above sea-level and counted 62 inhabitants in 1981. It is 25 kms away from Heraklion. To get there, you follow the National Road to Aghios Nikolaos and at kms 17.7 turn right, taking the road Gouves-Skotino- Vorou. Nowadays it is known as Voritsi but this name is not official.
The name Vorou, on the other hand, in the district of Pediados is mentioned by Barozzi in 1577.
At the beginning of this century there lived a wise man and a healer in the village of Voritsi. His name was Giorgos Konstantoulakis and people flocked from all over to Crete to seek his advice.

KALO HORIO

At a height of 320 m above sea-level, Kalo Chorio belongs to the district of Pediados and the municipality of Gouves. It is 25.7 kms. from Heraklion, to the right at the cross-roads at km 16.7 on the National Road to Agios Nikolaos and on the road to Gouves- Koxare- Kalo Chorio.
The present name does not figure in old Venetian documents, though there is a reference in the 1367 Duke’s archives of Chandax to a Kalo Chorio, without however naming the district. The villagers maintain that the village was called Stravorina in the old days, and indeed there is a reference by Barozzi in 1577 to a village Stravorina in the district of Pediados. In the 1583 Register, the village Stravorina is mentioned as having 76 inhabitants and in the Turkish census of 1671 Istavrine is quoted as having 21 "charatsa" (A Turkish word referring to a tax paid by the head of each family; hence 21 families). However, Chourmouzis Vizantios in 1842 mentions Kalo Chorio, the present name was therefore given in the decade 1830-1840. The village counted 298 inhabitants in 1981.
The Maza hill-top, south-east of the village, is 457 metres high. According to archaeologists (among them the famous N. Platon) and on the basis of recent finds, the name Maza comes from pre-Hellenic years and means Mother Earth. The pile of stones on the hill was, according to N.Platon, a town from the 10th to the 8th c. BC. The highest part was undoubtedly used as a shrine in Middle-Minoan years, and clay figurines and offerings were found there. The shrine lay quite close to the town. The shrine stopped being used in Proto-Geometric years.
There is as well a wonderful gorge at Kalo Chorio, for nature lovers.

KOXARI

This village belongs to the municipality of Gouves. It has 198 inhabitants and lies at a height of 180 m. above sea-level. It is 23.3 kms away from Heraklion on the Central Road from Heraklion to Lassithi, to the right at Km 17.7. Fr. Barozzi mentions the village in 1577 under the name of Coxari.
This village was ruled by the family Grego, and part of the village was given in dowry to Elena Grego when she married the poet Marco Antonio Foscolo, author of the play "Fortunatos", in 1618. The monastery of Kyra Eleousa lies close to Koxare. Of old, Koxare belonged to the Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople.

HARASSO

Charaso is a village of the district of Pediados and comes under the administration of the municipality of Gouves. At a height of 410 m above sea-level, it had 126 inhabitants in 1981. It lies 27.3 kms. away from Heraklion, to the right at the crossroads at km 17.7 on the National Road to Aghios Nikolaos and on the road to Gouves- Koxare- Charaso. Lying at the end of the valley to the right, this village is built on a small hill.
In 1583 it is referred to as Carasso in the Register, and again in 1630 by Vassilikata. In 1671, under Turkish rule, it had 37 "charatsa" (A Turkish word referring to a tax paid by the head of each family; hence 37 families).
According to Stefanos Xanthoudidis, the name goes back to the Slav mercenaries who accompanied Nikiphoros Phocas in 981 to Crete. In Slav, the word "Charatso" means good, pleasant.
However, Stefanos Xanthoudidis points out that the suffix -os is basically pre-Hellenic; the correct name then should be Charasos. In 1583, the Register mentions a certain debtor in the livelli, named Zorzi Caraso who could well be the name of the first family in the village, and by extension it became the name of the whole village.

KOKKINI HANI
(Vathianos Kambos)

Located on the old national road from Iraklion to Agios Nikolaos it was first mentioned at the census of 1940 as a small fishing settlement, part of the municipality of Anopolis.
Due to its proximity to Iraklion Kokkini Hani first became a popular summer resort for the residents of Iraklion and later, that tourism industry started to develop, a renowned tourist resort.
There are many large and luxurious hotels, as well as many smaller family owned ones, taverns, bars, restaurants, shops etc.
Its beaches are carefully looked after and organized to provide all the facilities, from umbrellas and sun chairs to the most exquisite sea sports.

A minoan villa was unearthed near Kokkini Hani at a place called Nirou Hani.

Minoan Megaron at Nirou Hani (Text from the site of the Greek ministry of culture - www.culture.gr) Luxurious house, two storeys high, built of large ashlar. The walls were strengthened by timber-frames and covered with a thick layer of plaster and marble slabs. The building has a paved courtyard, a shrine, storerooms for agricultural products, a staircase, and rooms with benches. It has been interpreted as a High Priest's house, due to the numerous ceremonial vessels it contained. The house was probably built in the 16th century. C. (MM III period) and, after its destruction by fire in the 15th century BC (LM IB period), was finally abandoned. The "Minoan Megaron" at Nirou was excavated in 1918 by St. Xanthoudides. In 1960, under the supervision of the Ephor of Antiquities N. Platon, the site was fenced and the building restored. The monument is consolidated and cleared at intervals by the 23rd Ephorate. Visiting Hours: Daily: 8:30-15:00, Monday: closed Entrance Fee: Free Admission

ANOPOLIS

At the 7th km from Iraklion to Agios Nikolaos a crossroad leads after 10km to Anopolis. A visit to Anopolis after the noisy tourist resorts will be a pleasant experience. A typical Cretan village with narrow streets, the flowery yards, and people who preserve the old customs in their day to day life.
The history of the village that goes back to the centuries since it is first mentioned in 1271 with the same name, and was present to all efforts of Crete against the numerous invaders
Visit the church of Holly Trinity and the memorial to the fighters for freedom and then sit at the village’ s square and take your coffee or raki in one of the traditional small cafes.

The Monastery of Saint John "Theologos" The monastery is located in a small distance south east of Anopolis in a tree covered valley. It was first a part of the Saint George monastery located by the mouth of Aposelemis river a few kilometers to the north, but around 15th - 16th century the monks due to the raids of the pirates moved from Saint George’s monastery to the monastery of Saint John taking with them the icon of the Saint which exists until today. During the Turkish occupation a "secret school" has been operating at the monastery which was also a base of the rebellions against the invaders. The monks of the monastery and the people of Anopolis paid for their activities when in July 1896 the Turks slaughtered them and ruined the monastery. A cross stands at the top of the overlooking hill to remind this massacre. The monastery was refounded by Kalinikos Daskalakis (1904 - 1936).

GOURNES

Located on the road from Iraklion to Agios Nikolaos 15km from Iraklion Gournes is a coastal village of 1500 permanent residents.
The name (gourna= basin) probably derives from the watering places that used to be there years ago.
Gournes is mentioned with this name since 1280 but later it was abandoned because it was on the road of the numerous invaders to the eastern Crete.
Excavations carried out in 1945 unearthed tombs of the Minoan period with many significant findings.
Another significant monument is the old chapel of Saint John Bezetis located in the small valley with well preserved frescoes.
For a long period in Gournes was stationed the "American Base" and the numerous American soldiers who served there still remember those days and their Cretan friends.
Nowadays Gournes is practically a popular tourist resort together with Kokkini Hani providing all the modern facilities to the visitors.
The municipality of Anopolis is planning to built a modern marina near the place where the American base used to stand.

AMNISSOS & KARTEROS

Five kilometers east of the city of Iraklion is the organized beach area of Karteros and Amnissos.
The beach starts from the mouth of Karteros river and ends a little after the hill "Paleochora" where the archaeological site of Amnissos stands.
Amnissos was the seaport of Knossos.
The excavations carried out at the archaeological site brought to light the Minoan Villa of the Lillies, named after the splendid frescoes which decorate the interior walls, depicting blossomed lilies and floral patterns (now exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Iraklion).
This villa was most probably built in the 17th century B.C. and, according to the excavator, was destroyed in 1500 B.C. by an earthquake or a tidal wave. The monument suffered damages by the German soldiers, during World War II.
In the area there are quite few hotels and apartments to let as well as many taverns and bars.

The Cave of Ilithia (Eileithyia) Eileithyia was a goddess that protected childbirth and this cave was the most important place of her worship. According to tradition she was born by Hera inside this cave, which is also mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey (t 188). The finds proove that it was continuously used from Neolithic until late Roman times, with more intensive occupation noted for the Neolithic, Minoan, and late Roman periods. Evidence for cult practice in the Early Christian times (5th century A.D.) also exists. It is 64.5 m. long, entered from the east. Inside there was a rectangular anteroom and a rectangular peribolos surrounding cylindrical stalagmites (altar or cella). The courtyard is exactly outside the cave and was probably used for ceremonial activities. Buildings of the 14th-13th centuries B.C. were discovered here and interpreted as priests' houses by their excavator. ...for more info: www.culture.gr

KATO VATHIA

Kato Vathia is located 15,3 km from Iraklion on the road to Episkopi - Agarathos. It is a built at an altitude of 210m a.s.l. at the valley of Vathianos river.
It is mentioned in various documents since 1271 A.D.
Near the village at a place called Artsa was discovered a tomb of the Late Minoan period with interesting findings.

PANO VATHIA

Kato Vathia is located 14 km from Iraklion on the road to Episkopi - Agarathos. It is a built at an altitude of 260m a.s.l. at the fertile valley of Vathianos river.
The main products are olive oil, soultanas, wine and grapes.
It is mentioned in various documents since 1271 A.D.

ELIA

Beautiful village with 906 permanent residents located 16 km east of Iraklion.
It is built 230m a.s.l on a hill overlooking the area and commands great view to the beach of Amnissos and Karteros.

Sights

• Minoan Megaron at Nirou
  
• The Villa of the Lillies (Amnissos)
  
• Ilithia cave
  
• Agia Paraskevi cave at Skotino
  
• The Monastery of Kyra Eleoussa
  
• The Monastery of "Theologos"