Korakas beach (Rodakino)

The village Rodakino is located 45km southeast of Rethymno city, on the exit of a steep canyon that runs across the mountain Kryoneritis, a few kilometers west of Plakias resort and east of Fragokastelo. This traditional village is built on both sides of the gorge, which separates it into two sub-villages, namely Kato and Ano Rodakino. The village overlooks the deep blue Libyan Sea. The village's name means peach in Greek, taken after a peach tree that grew here, despite the dry climate of the region. Others say that the gorge was called Rikinthos, that was later paraphrased to Rodakino.

At the exit of the river that runs in the canyon, 2km south of the village, there are many beautiful and tranquil beaches. To visit them you should take the road that leads to Korakas. Despite the fact that it has a great beachfront, Rodakino is not highly developed and still retains its traditional character and harmony.

The first beach that you come across the exit of the dried river is Korakas (i.e. crow in Greek). It is a long beach with fine grayish pebbles and wonderfully clear waters, well organized with umbrellas, taverns and some rooms to rent. In its east end, there are cavernous rocks. Locals say that before getting eroded they looked like a crow’s beak.

Surroundings

In Ano Rodakino you will see the old churches of the Assumption, Transfiguration and Saint Panteleimon. In Kato Rodakino you will see the old churches of St. George, Prophet Elijah and St. Anthony. On top of Kryoneritis Mount is the Church of the Holy Spirit, which hosts a big festival every year. In the site of the chapel, there is a hole where a shepherd found an icon of the Holy Spirit. He was guided to get there by the light of the Holy Spirit. When he took the icon to his home, it disappeared and was found again in the same position. This legend gave rise to build a church here. Lastly, the first flag of the Revolution on 24.05.1821 was hoisted in the location Kourkoulos, by the abbot of the Preveli monastery, Melchizedek Tsouderos.

Korakas bay was used several times during the Cretan revolution of 1866, when Greek cruisers were unloading munitions that were later stored in the nearby cave Skotini. Moreover, Korakas was used by the legendary steamship "Arcadi”, on one of its last missions for transporting munitions, but it was forced to leave by the Turks.

Photos

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