Lendas is a remote coastal village located 74km south of Heraklion, on the southern slopes of the imposing Asterousia Mountains, and inside the area of village Miamou. It is a tourist resort, mildly developed, offering very relaxing holidays. Lendas can be accessed from Agii Deka, close to Mires town, via the village of Miamou, through a narrow paved road. This road crosses the rugged mountains and descends from an altitude of about 1000m to Lendas (sea surface) in a route that offers breathtaking views over the sea of Lendas.
The surrounding area is full of beaches that attract many nudists. The beach in front of the village Lendas is protected on the east from Cape Psamidomouri and on the West from the famous Cape Lion. This beach was the old port of Lendas, which has now been moved to Loutra, and is the busiest beach in the area. If you want to stay secluded, you can visit the remote beaches of Dyskos and Loutra.
Lendas is built on the site of the ancient city of Levina, which was famous for the healing spring and the huge temple, dedicated to the Asclepius and Hygeia Sotira (4th century AC). Levena was abandoned in the 7th-8th century, possibly because of constant pirate raids.
On the east of the village, opposite the Psamidomouri Cape there is a rock that reminds of a crouching elephant, with another beach formed opposite the rock. Furthermore, even further, Cape Trafoulas resembles a crocodile from Lendas. Thus, a legend was born that once Cleopatra came to Lendas with her favorite animals, namely lion, crocodile, and elephant. When she decided to return to Egypt, she left behind the petrified animals to guard the place.
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Lendas is a remote coastal village located 74km south of Heraklion, on the southern slopes of the imposing Asterousia Mountains. It is a tourist resort and a port, mildly developed offering very relaxing holidays. Lendas can be accessed from Agii Deka, close to Mires town, via the village of Miamou, through a narrow paved road.
Tripiti (or Trypiti) is located 73km south of Heraklion and 12km east of Lendas, in a small plain at the exit of the gorge of Tripiti (not the homonym gorge of Sfakia area). The name is taken after the church of Panagia Tripiti, which is built inside a cave at the base of the canyon.
Trafoulas or Dragon Bay is located 4km east of Lendas and 69km south of Heraklion. It is a completely isolated beach of south Crete, which is formed at the exit of a small canyon on the Cape Trafoulas or Trahilas. According to the legend, this beach was visited by King Minos and his men, while the neighbouring Loutra beach was the bathing beach of Minos's wife, Pasiphae, and her female followers.
The gorge of Trypiti is formed at the range Asterousia, to the south of the village Vassiliki. The length of the canyon reaches 4 km and a beautiful pebble beach is formed at its exit. The beach is reached though a dirt road that runs high along the eastern side of the canyon for several kilometers before reaching its riverbed, just before the exit to the sea.
It is located at the exit of a small valley, a rare phenomenon in the wild Asterousia Mountains, which starts from the village Antiskari and ends in settlement. The fertile valley is used for growing early vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc., since the temperature here is always high. Characteristic of the warm climate is that the swallows do not leave the area in winter.
Loutra (i.e. Baths) is located 3km east of the seaside village Lendas, 77km south of Heraklion. It is known to locals because it hosts the port of Lendas, which is protected by the Cape Trafoulas on the east.
Dyskos is located 75km southwest of Heraklion, just 1-2km west of Lendas. It is a small settlement, known also as Dytikos, which is separated from the village of Lendas by the famous Cape Lion. Lion is said that was one of the lions carrying the chariot of the goddess Rhea and was petrified here.
West of Lendas you'll meet the small village of Tsigounas with the small beach of Limanaki (harbor) used as a local harbour, due to its protected orientation. Tsigounas name derives from the word tsigounis (stingy) referring to a local spring with a small quantity of water.
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