History

At the position that is currently the chapel of Agio Pnevma (Holy Spirit) at the summit of Mount Vrysinas (altitude 858m) the archaeologists have identified probably the most important Minoan Peak Sanctuary of West Crete. From this point one can overlook the northern coast and the province of Agios Vasilios.

Near the site of the current temple of Agia Ekaterini, above Loutro, traces of walls and buildings have been identified, belonging to the Ancient town of Anopolis, port of which was Katopoli or Phoenix, currently located in Loutro. Anopolis was an independent town and had its own currency.

At position Grigori Peak by Kamilari we meet the ruins of alarge domed tomb (34m long perimeter) with panoramic sea views. The tomb was discovered in 1959 by the Italian archaeologist Doro Levi, and dates back from 2000 BC.

Priniatikos Pirgos is a small peninsula that separates the two beaches of Agios Panteleimon Karavostasis upon which an important Minoan settlement has been identified. The settlement has been mapped by the American and Irish Archaeological School. It was inhabited from the Minoan till the Ottoman Era and was highly depended on its harbor. Important findings are kilns for ceramics production.

Atop a steep peak, naturally fortified and close to Kalo Chorio, we meet the ruins of the Late Minoan settlement of Vrokastro. This settlement belongs to the dozens of settlements of the darkest period of Crete (1200BC), after the destruction of the Minoan civilization, when settlements were founded on the most inhospitable and inaccessible peaks of the Cretan mountains.

The archaeological site at hill Kefali of St. Anthony or Kremasma is situated next to the sea, between the beaches Avlaki and Boufos. This point offers very good view of the canyon Selinari, which was the passage to East Crete. The excavations began in 1960 by the archaeologist Kostas Davaras and continued long after by the School of Archaeology of Belgium.

The historic Monastery of Odigitrias on the way to Agiofaraggo hides many treasures. Beyond the monastery itself with such great history and the tower of Xopateras, it conceals another surprise north of the monastery. This is the prepalatial necropolis of Odigitria, named after the monastery, as we still don’t know the name of the town it belonged to.

The ruins of the largest Minoan cemetery in Crete have been discovered in this area with 252 graves from the early Minoan period, 1800 vases and many artefacts buried with the dead.