The Area

Village with many olive groves. On the road towards Avgo settlement, ruins of Minoan settlements and copper mines have been found, while 2km from the village, stands a huge Monumental Olive Tree, from which a kòtinos (olive wreath as a prize) was cut off in order to crown the first female Marathon winner of the Olympic Games “ATHENS 2004”.

Apart from swimming, you may also go on excursions to the area around. The village of Kavoussi (3,5 kilometers far from the beach at the South), built at the foot of mountain Thrypti, within a small fertile valley with vegetable cultivation, vineyards and olive trees, is certainly worth seeing. Once in the village, you may visit the Byzantine churches of Aghios Georgios (St. George) and of the 12 Apostles. It is also worth seeing the huge perennial olive tree, with a trunk of an impressive diameter, within the valley at a distance of some 2 kilometers southeastern to the village ; it is certainly a natural monument, worth taking photos of it. If you are fan of archaeology, don’t miss to visit the Minoan settlements at the sites of “Vrontas” and “Kastro”; also you should go any way to see the Minoan copper mines at “Chryssokamino”. Also at the beach of Tholos you may see ruins of the Roman period, whereas an Early Minoan settlement is found on the small islet of Psira, opposite to the beach. The fans of natural sightseeing should visit the Messona gorge and the cave Theriospilio, with interesting stalagmites, close to “Chryssokamino”.

Sights :

· The archaeological site of "Vrondas", a preminoan settlement which can be visited by car.

· The archaeological site of "Plai Kastrou", preminoan settlement with interresting finds, now on display at the Iraklion museum, visited only by a 1.5km footpath.

· The gorge of Mison with rare flora and fauna, and two paths, one for walking and one for trekking.

· The cave "Theriospilios" with stalactites and stalagmites.