Dörfer & Städte

Houdetsi

Archanes-Asterousia, Heraklion · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A creative village in a green valley.

Houdetsi lies in a green valley south of Heraklion, near Archanes and Myrtia. The village has been documented since the 13th century and is known for its agricultural products, festivals and crafts.

The Labyrinth Musical Workshop, founded by the Irish musician Ross Daly, is based here, with a museum of traditional instruments from around the world and summer workshops. The Epanosifis monastery is nearby.

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 21 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 21 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