Dörfer & Städte

Archanes

Archanes-Asterousia, Heraklion · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A beautifully restored wine village.

Archanes is a large village about 15 km south of Heraklion, surrounded by vineyards. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Crete, with restored neoclassical houses, cobbled lanes and colourful facades. In 2000 it won a European prize for its restoration.

The area has a long history. A Minoan palace probably stood under the modern village, and nearby are the Minoan cemetery of Fourni, the temple of Anemospilia and the villa of Vathypetro. Mount Giouchtas, which looks like the face of Zeus from a distance, rises above the village.

Archanes is known for its wine and its tavernas, which serve excellent local food. It's a great place for dinner, especially in the evening when the square comes alive.

Archanes-Asterousia stretches from the wine villages south of Heraklion, like Archanes and Peza, down to the wild Asterousia mountains and the Libyan Sea. Mount Giouchtas, which looks like the profile of Zeus, rises above Archanes, and the area is rich in Minoan sites. Further south, the Asterousia hide monasteries, gorges and remote beaches such as Treis Ekklisies and Tsoutsouros. The wineries of the Peza area are open for tastings.

Around Archanes-Asterousia

Nearest town: Heraklion, about 15 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 15 km by road

Heraklion is the heart of Minoan Crete and the island’s busiest region. Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum are the two places almost everyone visits, and they work well together on one day. In the south, the wide Messara plain holds the palace of Phaistos, the Roman ruins of Gortyna and the famous caves above the bay of Matala. More about Heraklion