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A safe natural harbour on the Bay of Messara, blessed with a gently sweeping sand and pebble beach, the place in legend where Zeus swam ashore in the guise of a bull with Europa on his back. Many people make this village their base for Cretan holidays, as it is so central on the south coast, and away from the over-development of the north coast. The beach is 250m long and 45m wide…

Kommos (or Komos) is located 66km southwest of Heraklion, just 2km north of Matala and close the village Pitsidia.
It is actually the southernmost and the most isolated part of the long beachfront of Messara Bay. Kommos was once the port of Phaestus; you can still see the ruins of the old port of Kommos on the beach. You can access Kommos by driving in the road heading to Matala, till you see a sign to Kommos near Pitsidia.
The entire beachfront of Messara is exposed to westerly winds, which mostly blow in the area. Thus, caution is needed because the seabed in some places is rocky. The protected loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) lay their eggs in the sand of the beach, from May to September…

Accordion ContentThe Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos) is located at location Moudia, 68km southwest of Heraklion and just 800m south of Matala famous resort. To get here you have to walk a trail that begins north of the settlement of Matala and crosses the hill Kastri north of Matala. There are some signs showing the way, so don;t worry about getting lost. In the beginning of the route you have to climb some rocks and in the final meters you have to descend a steep cliff, but it’s not particularly difficult. After walking 15-25 minutes from Matala and after passing a shepherd’s door (close it back, in order goats notto escape!) you will see the magnificent Red Beach from above. The view from the hill is great and is an ideal place for watching the sunset. Alternatively, if you do not want to hike, you can catch a boat from the Matala harbor
(it should take about 5 euros / route)…

Accordion ContenThe Palace of Phaistos lies on the East end of Kastri hill at the end of the Mesara plain in Central Southern Crete.
To the north lies Psiloritis, the highest mountain in Crete. On the slopes of Psiloritis is the Kamares cave, probably a religious or cult centre for Phaistos and the Mesara plain. In this cave a very fine pottery style was discovered from the Middle Minoan period, which has been named Kamares Ware after the cave in which it was found. Kamares ware has only been found at Palace sites like Phaistos and Knossos, suggesting that it was specially produced for whatever elite was based in the Palaces…