The Wonders of Gortyna, Phaistos, and Matala: A Drive through Cretan Beauty

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The Wonders of Gortyna, Phaistos, and Matala: A Drive through Cretan Beauty

(2 reviews)
Messara Plain audio tour: The Wonders of Gortyna, Phaistos, and Matala: A Drive through Cretan Beauty
This is a 40.8mi driving tour
It takes an average of 180 mins to complete.
Messara Plain
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$19.99
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About the Tour

The Messara Plain is a vast and fertile expanse in southern Crete, known for its abundant produce. This driving tour weaves through this paradise, leading you to coastal treasures, and unraveling the ancient mythology and local customs of the area.

Our tour begins at the archaeological site of Gortys, where Zeus supposedly made love to Europa under an olive tree. After viewing the oldest basilica in Crete, you’ll navigate towards the famous caves of Matala, where I’ll tell you how a flood led archaeologists to discover important artifacts in this ancient site.

You’ll also hear how Matala, with its beautiful sandy beach, was a hippie village – until the church and the military junta drove the newcomers out. You’ll continue to the Minoan Palace of Phaistos and its Bronze Age archaeological site, after enjoying the stunning views over Kommos and Kalamaki beach. Before the tour ends in the town of Moires, you’ll have an opportunity to enrich your insights into this island at the Museum of Cretan Ethnology in the village of Vori.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

  • Visit the memorable Church of Agioi Deka, where ten Cretan Christians were martyred for refusing to participate in the temple’s dedication to the goddess Tyche
  • Admire the many artifacts in the Archaeological Museum of Messara, with its broadly admired exhibition passionately created by locals
  • Let your senses wander at the special 'Botano' Herb Shop in Litsaros, where you can purchase a multitude of local herbs and spices
  • Help the monks at the Monastery of Odigitrias by visiting their museum, a place with a proud history of involvement in resistance movements
  • Enjoy a coffee in the unique Pitsidia square and observe the attractive mix of architectural styles while enjoying its bohemian atmosphere
  • Get a view of the excavations of Agia Triada, and a vantage point over the military airstrip of Tympaki

At the end of this tour, you’ll be given options to independently continue your adventures to Heraklion, Rethymnon, or Chania.

Categories
Ancient History Scenic Routes

Tour Producer

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Mr. Routaki

30 tours

Bio of AJ alias Mr. Routaki:
Since 1995 I have been coming to Crete. An island that has stolen my heart. The Samaria Gorge was my very first working area and in the following seasons many more regions followed in a wide variety of professions.
And always surrounded by friendly guests who had all kinds of questions. That is why the Routaki routes also provide the information desired by you as a guest of the island.

After completing my tourism education (M.T.R.O.) I found the right activities in this wonderful profession.
Guide, tour leader, resort host, underwater-cameraman, restaurant owner, Jeep safari guide or sailing (flotilla) leader. All these experiences I use nowadays when compiling my information and stories which I incorporate into my car routes and city walks.

Daily life on Crete interwoven with the stories of the many acquaintances I have been able to listen to over the past thirty years.
The first routes were created in 2006 using CDs (and even cassette tapes!!). Parts of routes from back then have now, with the help of the VoiceMap app, grown into a beautiful portfolio of day trips in the three languages I master; Dutch, English and German.

The Infotheek on my Routaki.com website will continue to grow and many more routes and walks will follow.

Some of my goals are to apply augmented reality and to show you the traditions of the olive harvest or wedding ceremonies even outside the usual periods.
I continue to immerse myself in the Cretan culture traditions and customs. I read about recent developments and combine this for you into a wonderful holiday day experience.

Through the many ‘interest media’ I am happy to keep you informed.

Preview Location

Location 37

Matala

You are approaching the famous beach village of Matala with its well known caves

These caves were carved into the cliffs during the Neolithic Age. Later on Matala served as the port of Phaistos during the Minoan period, subsequent to the destruction of Kommos. Remnants of t... Read More
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Major Landmarks

  • Archaeological Site of Gortyna

  • Church of Saint Titus

  • Archaeological Museum of Mesara

  • Agii Deka

  • Messara Plain

  • Βότανο - Botano

  • Odigìtria Monastery

  • Pitsidia

  • Matala

  • Matala beach

  • Σπήλαια Ματάλων

  • Kommos beach

  • Kommos Antiquities

  • Minoan Palace of Phaistos

  • Φαιστός

  • Tympaki

  • Tympaki Airport

  • Archaeological Site of Agia Triada

  • Museum of Cretan Ethnology

  • Moires

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.
  1. Start location
    Γόρτυς, Άγιοι Δέκα 700 12, Greece
  2. Total distance
    66km
  3. Final location
    35.0534871, 24.86364393
  4. Distance back to start location
    8km

Directions to Starting Point

Start: Γόρτυς, Agii Deka 700 12, Greece

This route starts at the parking lot of the Gortys excavation site. Gortys can be easily reached using the newer highways from the North Coast.

From the Rethymnon region you drive via Armeni, Spili, Timpaki and Mires.

The new highway through the heart of the island is a good supply route for the seaside resorts around and east of the capital city Heraklion.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The Botano herb shop in Listaros is experienced as very special. Of course, both excavations are a must see, if that is what you are interested in. And you shouldn't leave this day behind without having been into one of the Matala caves.
Much of this route was written in Zafaria internet café opposite these caves. It was always wonderful to stay there.
Their address: Epar.Od. Gortinas - Matalon, Matala

Best time of day

The route can be completed throughout the year and is designed to span a day. The actual driving time is approximately 3.5 hours, but there are numerous opportunities to explore or enjoy pleasant breaks.

At the end of the route you will be offered the choice of returning to the Rethymnon region, or that of Heraklion (incl. Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia) both via highways.

Precautions

Bring your smartphone battery charger, maintain an average speed of 55-60 km, wear appropriate clothing for churches and monasteries, purchase the correct language version of the route (Dutch or English), ensure that the route is NOT set to the audio-book setting, if you have one, bring a smartphone holder, disable automatic screen turn-off (don't forget to put it back on afterwards).

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