Matala description and photos - Greece: Crete (Topic)

Matala description and photos - Greece: Crete. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Matala.

Photo and description

75 km south-west of Heraklion, on the western shore of the Mesar Valley, there is a small resort village of Matala and the beach of the same name. The picturesque bay in which the village is located is surrounded on both sides by rocky mountains with many caves. Matala beach is considered one of the best beaches in Crete.

The history of this settlement goes back to the distant past, in the Neolithic era. It was then that numerous caves were artificially created in the rocks surrounding the bay, which are used as housing. Probably, the ancient settlement reached its heyday in the Minoan era, when on the site of today's village was the harbor of the city of Festus - one of the most important centers of the Minoan civilization. During the period of Roman rule, Matala was also a port, but already the ancient Roman city of Gortyna. In the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. ancient caves were used for the burial of the dead. One of the caves is called Brutospeliana (`` Brutus' Cave ''), as according to an ancient legend the famous Roman general Brutus visited it.

For a long time Matala was a small fishing village. It began to acquire its tourist popularity in the 60s of the last century. Then the picturesque bay and ancient caves were chosen by hippies. But after the collapse of one of the caves and the death of a man, free access to the cave was closed. Today, the cave tombs are protected by the archaeological service and are available to tourists as part of an organized excursion.

Matala lives mainly on tourism. Warm and crystal clear Libyan Sea, gentle sun, gorgeous sandy beach, picturesque nature, cozy hotels and apartments,

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Topic: Matala description and photos - Greece: Crete.