EnglishGreekDeutschFrenchItalianRussian

Matala

Share

Lodging list in Matala

Stravaganti, Houses for Rent

The caves and beach in Matala
The caves and beach in Matala
Matala located 71km southwest of Heraklion via the Iraklion - Agia Varvara - Agii Deka - Mires - Matala road is on the coast, south of the town of Timbaki. Matala is quite a large town with a good range of tourist facilities from which you can easily reach the archaeological sites of Festos, Agia Triada, and Gortyn. Various other beaches of southern Crete are also nearby. Matala has remains of Minoan, Greek, Roman and early Byzantine eras.
Matala was originally the harbour of Festos during the Minoan and Greek period, and when Gortyn defeated Festos in 220 B.C., it became the harbour of Gortyn. Traces of the ancient settlement are seen on the bottom of the sea.
Matala is famous for its man-made caves which were first inhabited during the prehistoric period. Tombs found in the caves date from Greek, Roman and Early Christian times.
 

Photos of Matala:


The cave chapel of the Panagia in MatalaThe cave chapel of the Panagia in MatalaThe bazaar atmosphere of the market in MatalaThe bazaar atmosphere of the market in MatalaThe caves and beach in MatalaThe caves and beach in Matala

< Prev   Next >
 

Comments  

 
0 #4 alan 2009-11-07 18:16
I have stayed in Matala many times since 2001,always on the campsite.This is good place with a diamond studied night sky where one may lay and count the shooting stars and other intresting objects above.The village is littered with friendly bars,some of which stay open untill morning filled with tourists mainly European who mix well with the local people and the talking and drinking goes on untill early morning.
People from all over Europa see Matala as a second home,often sleeping directly under the Tamerisk trees at Matala camping,and, if you stay there or at one of the hotels you will find somewhere different at the worlds end with out a care.Go to Matala
Quote
 
 
0 #3 Geoff 2007-10-21 19:39
I stayed at Matala campsite in 1985 for 8 weeks and will be returning to Matala for the first time in June 2008. We are staying at Valley Village hotel on the road into Matala. I have been desprate to go back to Matala for many years as Matala is one of the best places I have ever been too. I cant wait to see the writing on the wall and see if the jungle bar is still there. Oh happy carefree memories.From Geoff Petersfield Hampshire
Quote
 
 
0 #2 sharon 2007-09-17 18:57
I stayed in Matala for many months many years ago before tourism had really hit Greece. It was a frienldy beautiful place then and after going back after 13 years it still had the charm and frienliness that it had all those years ago.

There were a few more tourist shops around and quite a few more hotels but it still felt like the same Matala that i had lived in all those years before. Even some of the hoteliers remembered me and treated me like an old friend.

The beach is gorgeous and the caves make it just more interesting.

I would say to anyone to go and spend time there. It is a truly wonderful place to visit.
Quote
 
 
0 #1 Leon Karahalis 2006-02-03 05:37
I visited Matala in 1993 when the southern side of Crete was just getting "developed". There were incredibly new hotels (not with air conditioning, but clean and cheap) at the height of the season to accommodate any travelers. It was a wonderful respite, our day at the beach there, it being our only day of total relaxation. It was very easy to get to and close to several of the archeological sites that were on our itinerary. The food was great, the people friendly. In July, the sere winds blow constantly across the sea directly from the Sahara at over 100 degrees F. When we set our blanket down amid the hubbub of the somewhat crowded main beach, I (from Miami) went off to test the water. My friend called out "How´s the water?" I responded, "Like home in January". The entire beach went mute. It was one of those moments where you could read the minds of everyone around, because they were all thinking the same thing -- "Where in the world are these Amerikanakia from?" We were sad to leave it, but we had many places to see and only had a week to see 1/2 of Kriti. It ranks an AAA+++ in my book for a place out of the way to go and flake out in Greece.
Quote
 

Add comment


Security code
Refresh