Ο Ενετικός ναός του Αγίου Δημητρίου βρίσκεται κοντά στο Καστρί Βιάννου και ήταν το καθολικό της ομώνυμης μονής που λέγεται ότι κτίστηκε με γάλα (γαλακτόκτιστος). Σήμερα τα κελιά και τα άλλα κτίσματα της μονής είναι ερειπωμένα. Ο κατάγραφος ναός είναι μονόχωρος, καμαροσκέπαστος με εγκάρσιο νάρθηκα και με εισόδους στα νότια και στα δυτικά.
The very old monastery of St. George was built in the 9th century but it was abandoned several centuries later, because of the constant raids of pirates. A Byzantine tower was built next to the building complex. It was built by the monks of the monastery so as to control the sea and pirates.
One of the most beautiful evergreen shrubs that can be met in Crete and in other regions of Greece are strawberry trees (Arbutus Unedo). The strawberry trees are found in all the prefectures of Crete and not only in the western Crete, as locals believe. Indeed at the westernmost part of the island we meet them quite often, while in the mountainous provinces of Kissamos and Selino they cover entire slopes often forming low impassable woods.
Anemones (Anemone coronaria L) are among the most beautiful flowers that adorn the nature of Crete. They are annual plants that can reach heights up to 45 cm and there is only one flower per person. Their name is taken after the wind (anemos in Greek) as the ancient Greeks believed that the wind made them bloom. The Cretans most of the time call them poppies, however poppies belong to the species Papaver rhoeas L. The anemones of Crete plants are poisonous but are very beautiful flowers.
Εδώ βρίσκονται τα ερείπια της Παναγίας στο Καρυδάκι, η οποία λειτούργησε ως μικρό γυναικείο μοναστήρι. ‘Ηταν δίκλιτη εκκλησία με εγκάρσιο νάρθηκα. Από την πηγή που βρίσκεται δίπλα στη μονή αυτή υδρευόταν η κρήνη Μοροζίνι στον Χάνδακα (σημερινό Ηράκλειο).
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.
The mountain of Samitos is the extension of Mount Kedros to the northeast and is separated from the main volume of Kedros by the river Smilianos. At the top of it is built the chapel of Ascension (altitude 1013 meters), from where the view around the Amari valley is amazing.
The church of St. Paul, after which the village Agios Pavlos of province Apokoronas is named, by Gavalohori, dates back from the 16th century. It has been restored and the interior does not preserve murals. Outside the temple, a cemetery has been identified which dates back from the 12th century, implying that there was an older temple here. There is a cross in the interior, bearing the date 1886.
