Toplou Monastery
The monastery of Holy Mother, built in the 14th century, impresses the visitor with his imposing presence.
His castle-like architecture, the huge museum with unique and rare exhibits like icons, religious and historical books will spur your interest for a visit to the Monastery.
Here are cultivated and packed the ecological products TOPLOY, olive oil, wine and raki.
Visit the olive press, the wrapping centre, the properties of the Monastery and get informed about the agricultural method, from the persons of the Monastery.
Toplou Monastery is 4 kms far away from the settlement and half hour walk.

Zakros, Kato Zakros
A day-long excursion, a really alternative proposal, that will make you feel good, discovering one of the virgin and picturesque regions of Eastern Crete.
Following the way from the settlement to Palaikastro and continuing the road for Zakros, you will get there in about 45 minutes by car.
The landscape continuously alternates, between green hills and valleys with olive groves, in pasture lands and many traditional villages: Choklakies, Azokeramos, Kelaria and Adravasti.
Zakros is well known for its water and its beautiful source, as well as the numerous watermills. Begin your walk in picturesque narrow streets of the village, visit the Water Museum and the watermills, and go up to the source and the church of Lord Christ. The imposing landscape, the centuries aged plane trees, impose create a natural theatrical scene, where the sound of water and the light give their own representation.
From this point passes the European Path E4, which crosses the village and leads you to the gorge of Zakros, also called "Gorge of the dead" , in order to reach after one and half hour of walk in Kato Zakros. A great walk in one of the most beautiful gorges of Crete, with rare flora and fauna and impressive geological shapes.

For you who prefer the "comfort'' of a car, you should follow your way, and in fifteen minutes you will reach Kato Zakros, one of the most beautiful and quiet regions of Crete.
You should also visit the archaeological site, where is the Minoan Palace of Zakros, one of the biggest in Crete with important archaeological discoveries exposed in the museums of Heraklion and Sitia.
Enjoy your bath to the beach and a good lunch to the picturesque taverns with fresh fish and good local wine.
For those who like walking and adventures, we propose to follow the path that leads to the cavern "Pelekita", about forty minutes away. Take with you the essential equipment as lighter, water and you start. The cave has an impressive geological background, with stalagmites and stalactites and one can see at the entry Neolithic-age constructions.
Leaving the village, do not forget to take with you the product of this region, the olive oil of the local cooperative of Zakros.

Chochlakies - Karoumes
The gorge of Chochlakies, leading to the beach of Karoumes, is one of the intended excursions, located at the half way from the settlement (15 km) to Zakros. Reaching the village of Chochlakies, walk on the indicated path that leads to the entrance on the gorge and the beach. It will take you one hour, the path is practicable all the way along, and you will arrive to a lovely beach perfect for swimming and for fishing. Do not forget to take water and food with you.

Cultural ways
With this title every summer the Municipality organises cultural events in collaboration with all the institutions of the region. Musical and theatrical representations, traditional music and dances, popular art and traditional products, literature evenings and poetry.
Celebrations in the municipal places are:
on the15th of June the celebration of Saint Trinity in Palekastro,
on the 6 of August the celebration of Lord Christ in Zakros and
on 15th of August the celebration of Virgin Mary in Palekastro.
In Palekastro there is also a Folklore Museum.

Mountain tours.
The Municipality of Itanos does not only have beautiful and exotic beaches, but has also many mountains of rare beauty and traditions. We consider, if you have time enough, that a visit to this region, unknown for many people, will be a special experience and an occasion to discover the other side of Crete

Small traditional villages with particular architectural interest and colour, rare species of flora and fauna, important geological shaping (caverns, sinkholes, gorges) but also people with particular temperament and culture, compose the mountainous picture of the place. From Metohi Vai, you can get there by 2 different road axes:
a) Palekastro - Adravasti - Karidi: 20 km
b) Palekastro - Xirolimni - Karidi. This way requires a 4x4 car.
The villages you will encounter are Karidi where you will find traditionals coffee shops, raki or food, Mitato, Magasa, Hono, Misiriou, Xirolimni. Settlements with particular interest that deserves your attention.
Two important caverns exist in the region, the one of Peristera and the cavern Katophigi that requires knowledge and equipment in order to visit them.

BACK