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  • ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Φαγητό

The existence of numerous caves is inextricably linked to the rugged topography of Crete. People lived in caves thousands of years ago, as evidenced by the prehistoric carvings in the cave Skordilakia by Asfendou. Moreover, today's religious tradition in the caves, which hosts cavernous chapels, is an evolution of the worship of ancient gods inside caves.

Originally, the Minoans worshipped their major deities, such as Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, in caves. Later, they placed the birth and upbringing of the king of the gods, Zeus, in the Diktaean and Idaean caves, turning them into important religious centers. During the Byzantine era, caves which according to tradition hosted Saints, such as Saint Paul, Gerasimos and John Xenos, were converted to important ascetic communities. Many pages of Cretan history were also written in the caves of Crete, such as the massacres in the caves of Melidoni, Milatos, Krionerida, Xotikospilios and Tigani at Gramvousa.

Many caves are of very high speleological and ecological significance. Caves with rich decoration which are open to visitors are the Diktaean Cave by Psychro, Gerontospilios by Melidoni and Sfendonis by Zoniana. Besides the caves of religious or historical value, Crete has more than 4.500 mapped caves and sinkholes, available to each experienced speleologist who wants to enjoy their rich decoration and fauna. Areas that host a large number of caves, ideal for cavers, is mount Stroumboulas by Heraklion, the Geopark of Sitia, the Geopark of Psiloritis and Melidoni area in the White Mountains. The three deepest explored sinkholes in Greece are all located in Crete. 

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Tafkos sinkhole at Psakofarango

Το σπηλαιοβάραθρο του Ψακοφάραγγου βρίσκεται σε μικρό πλάτωμα σε υψόμετρο 1320 μέτρων στα όρια της κοινότητας του Ζαρού. Το όνομα το παίρνει από το φαράγγι του Ψακοφάραγγου που καταλήγει στη καρδιά του δάσους του Ρούβα

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Σπήλαιο Κατσικάλι

Dragonada island and in general the complex of the Dionysades islands, in addition to its ecological interest due to the population of Eleonora's falcon, also has exceptional geological interest.

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Σπήλαιο Κατσικάλι

The Dionysades Islands are a great geotope with dozens of caves that can be entered even by boat. One of their largest sea caves is located on the southern side of the southernmost island, Gianysada.

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Katsikali cave

The Katsikali sea cave is located on one of the steepest coasts of Asterousia, between the Koudoumas monastery and the beach of Tris Ekklisies and within the administrative district of the village of Paranymfi.

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Xanthos Cave at Ombrosgialos

The cave of Xanthos is located on a slope above the beautiful beach of Obrosgialos in province Apokoronas, West Crete. The area has many caves with rich cave decoration, from which Xanthos cave stands out.

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Eileithyia Cave in Tsoutsouras

The Cave of Eileithyia is formed very close to the point where the road from Heraklion meets the coastal road of Tsoutsouras, at the site of the ancient town Inatos. Its entrance, which is sealed for safety reasons by the Archaeological Service, is accessed via a very short path with stairs starting from the main road.

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Sea cave of Koutalas

A few meters east of the small beach Koutalas and on the rocky coastline of Drapanos we meet one of the many caves in the area of ​​Kokkino Chorio. It is the imposing cave of Koutalas, known to some as Nerospilia (Water Cave), even though Nerospilia is located in another nearby location.

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Boufos Cave at Kako Oros

Below the Old National Road is the large sea cave of Kako Oros, a special geological formation relatively unknown to most locals. There is a big hole in the roof of the cave, creating an impressive stone arch and a natural skylight.

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Mavro Skiadi pothole

The Mavro Skiadi cave abyss is one of the most famous precipices in Crete, mainly because it has the highest known descent in Greece and one of the highest in the world. It is located in position Atzinolakkos at an altitude of 1600 meters in the heart of the White Mountains.

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Maridon Cave

The Cave of Maridon is located about 300m east of Adrianos village and is accessed by a short path. It is a small cave, just 20m long, with a relatively large entrance (5m high and 4m wide). At the first part of the room, it is 4m wide. A stone wall separates the entrance from the rest of the cave, which extends to 6m and is used as a goat pen.

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Egglezos Cave at Tsivi

Egglezos Cave or Cave of the Guerillas is located in an isolated area of the cypress wood of Tsivi, at position Asfendami. In this small cave, during the Second World War, British soldiers and local allies were hiding.

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Cave Hainospilios at Gournes

The Hainospilios Cave is located near plateau Gournes in Lefka Ori, in the area of the village Kares, in the province of Apokoronas. It is a sinkhole, in which refugees and rebels found shelter in the past. Access is possible by hiking half an hour from Gournes, where a dirt road from Kares stops.

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Tafkos Giomatas Cave

The Cave Tafkos Giomatas is located near the village of Agia, province Mylopotamos, in the Talean Mountains at position Giomatas. It is one of the most beautiful caves in the prefecture of Rethymnon and was first explored by the Speological Club of Crete (SPOK) in 2003. The decoration consists of imposing curtains, stalagmites, stalactites and columns.

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Cave Big Psistraki

The Cave of Big Psistraki is a precipice located at an altitude of 950m, in the area of Evdomos and in the area of the village Gonies. Its total depth reaches 140m and has a length of approximately 90m. From its small entrance a 60 meter trench descends to the bottom, with a loft in the middle.

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Cave Peristeras at Salamias

At Cape Salamias, near the trail that connects Agios Ioannis with the beach of Salamias and almost above the sea level, the big cave of Peristeras is formed, which takes its name from the pigeons (peristeri in Greek) nesting in it.

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Stravomytis Cave

Cave Stratomytis or Lykastos Cave is located north of the settlement Karnari, just at the point where the solid limestone of Yiuhtas Mount meets the soil grounds of the region. It is very easily accessible via a short path and its location is easy found, as its numerous entrances can be seen from afar. The cave actually consists of a complex network of galleries, which exceed the length of 400 meters.

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Agiasmatsi Cave at Kapsodasos

Agiasmatsi Cave is located northeast of the village Kapsodasos, on a steep slope at an altitude of almost 300m, with an impressive view of Frangokastelo plain. It can be accessed initially through a dirt road and then through a trail (15-20) starting from the position Xylou Seli.

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Cave Kouroupidon

The impressive Cave Kouroupidon is located in the area of the village Kokkino Chorio of province Apokoronas, near the beach of Koutalis; the area hosts dozens of great caves. Detecting the entrance is difficult because it is very narrow and is not discernible.

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Petsis Cave

The cave of Petsis or Metaxaris is located at position Karavotopos, near Koutalis beach, in the area of the village Kokkino Horio in province Apokoronas. The cave has a very rich decor and is about 100 meters long, being one of the most important in the area (which has a large number of caves). Its interior has a lot of clay, so it's very slippery.

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Mougri Cave

Mougri cave is located in the middle of Kouloukonas mountains, just northwest of Vossakos monastery. It was formed within the “Plattenkalk” rocks, probably along one of the big faults in the area.

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