Monumental Trees

Either due to their enormous size or following legends, some trees in Crete have been declared natural monuments. Among the most famous of them are the evergreen plane-tree of Ancient Gortys, under which Zeus and Europe mated and, thus, Minos was born.

Many of the monumental trees have been officially designated as monuments of nature by the Greek state. One of them is the oversized hawthorn of Ancient Zominthos. Some other trees have been associated with the struggles of the Cretans for liberation, such as the huge oak tree Mandalenis at Korfes, the plane tree of the Pente Parthenes at Ancient Lappa and the oak tree of Ismael at Mathia. Monumental ancient plane trees are met in Krassi, Vlatos and within the monasteries of Saint George Gorgolainis, Saint John at Gionas and Holy Fathers at Azogyres.

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Monumental Olive Trees

In Crete there are many ancient olive trees that have been declared monumental by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities. The oldest olive trees in the world are located at the location Azorias by Kavoussi and Ano Vouves by Chania. The crowns for the winners of the Women's and Men's marathon at the Olympic Games held in Athens in 2004 were cut from these trees. At Anissaraki near Kandanos we meet an entire park of monumental olive trees, but also in Palea Roumata, Asomati, Ancient Eleftherna, Genna, Lastros, Panassos, etc. Show Map

Sacred Trees

In the religion of the Minoans, the olive tree had a prominent role as it can regenerate continuously and almost never die. This could symbolize the perpetuation of life through death, like nature. Ancient Greeks used to post dedications on wild olive trees (and other species) to keep evil away. Although all these seem very distant, it is very impressive that even today there are customs that have their roots in the dendrolatric beliefs of antiquity.

Gionas plane tree

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This plane tree forms a small oasis in the monastery of Saint John Giona, contrary to the arid and eerie landscape around. It is said that a weird phenomenon takes place here, as the leafs of the plane tree are from the other side than usual.

Madalenis Oak

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The oak of Madalenis or Manalenis is located near the village Korfes. This centenarian oak has been declared a natural monument. It is said that under the branches, that today touch the ground due to their size, assemblies of the rebels in the area took place during the Greek revolts.

Oak tree of Ismael

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The oak tree of Ishmael or Smailis is located near the village Mathia. Under the tree, camped the men of Ismail Selim Pasha on May 19, 1867, before taking part in the great battle of Lassithi Plateau (21-29 May).

Keramota plane tree

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At the picturesque village Keramota in province Mylopotamos we meet one of the several monumental trees of Crete. This is the perennial plane tree at the eastern end of the village. The tree in Keramota belongs to the species of Platanus orientalis and its age is estimated at about 2000 years. It is the oldest tree in province Mylopotamos and although it is located on the main road, almost everyone ignores its existence as it is located a few meters further down the road, thus the drivers see the upper part of it.

Kaloidena plane tree at Ano Meros

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The surrounding area of the old and deserted monastery Kaloeidena near Ano Meros is dominated by rich vegetation of plane trees, watered by a large water spring. But the tree that stands out is the plane tree of Kaloeidena just above the spring as it is the oldest of all the trees that surround the monastery, but it is also the most impressive tree of the whole region and can be listed to the monumental trees in Crete.

The oak tree of Katharo

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One of the oldest, if not the oldest, oak trees in Crete is located at position Theriolakos in Katharo Plateau. The perimeter of the giant tree on the ground level reaches 24m and one meter above the ground the it reaches 9m. Its characteristic feature is the tremendous hollow the trunk forms, which can fit many people comfortably.

Monuments

Monumental Trees

Monumental Olive Trees

Sacred Trees

Gionas plane tree

Madalenis Oak

Oak tree of Ismael

Keramota plane tree

Kaloidena plane tree at Ano Meros

The oak tree of Katharo

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