After following the road that leads from Mourtzana to the deserted settlement of millers, Mousses, we pass by the former Monastery of Christ. The monastery is located on the western side of the valley of the Mousses and retains the church which is built on the basis of an age-old cypress tree. The temple dates back to the Venetian and berars murals. The Monastery of Christ the Savior is deserted since 1864 and was a dependency of the Holy Sepulchre.
The cavernous two-aisled church of Saint Charalambos and Saint Nicholas is located in the village Skotino, Province Pediada and has unobstructed sea views. Internally, because of being carved, it has an irregular shape and the two aisles are joined together with a large arch.
Gladiolus italicus is one of the most impressive flowers that decorates the fields of Crete in the late spring. It is distributed across southern Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean. In Crete it is called Maherida (knife plant) due to the purple and pink flowers that are oblong and sharp as knives. Their scientific name also means the same, as Gladius means sword in Latin.
Ένα όμορφο κι άγνωστο πέτρινο γεφύρι με ένα τόξο που γεφυρώνει τις δύο όχθες του Πλατύ Ποταμού ανάμεσα στα χωριά Ορνέ και Αγία Παρασκευή, η οποία κάποτε συνέδεε την επαρχία του Αγίου Βασιλείου με την επαρχία Αμαρίου.
Kastri is located 72km southeast of Heraklion, in the sheltered bay of Keratokambos. It is the biggest of the two settlements of the region (the second is Keratokambos), which are now united. In recent years Kastri has faced a considerable development, mainly because the surrounding beaches are a magnet for visitors.
This part of the E4 is one of the easiest you can find in Crete as it is entirely through paved and dirt roads (in fair condition). As it is quite long, you can explore it by car, but we suggest thinking of cycling. The route offers good views to the olive groves of Pediada province.
The church of the Archangel Michael is located in the center of the village Monastiraki (Amari province) and is a single-nave vaulted church of the 14th century. The south side is adorned with three arches and the entrance bears superimposed Gothic arches. The frescoes have not survived in good condition (only the representation of the Conception of Mary is still visible), while the bell bears an inscription with the date 1601.
