⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗

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.

Ancient Levena

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Lendas is built on the site of the ancient city Levina, 74km south of Heraklion, on the southern slopes of the imposing Asterousia Mountains. The name of Levina is believed to come from the Phoenician “Lavi” which means Lion. Indeed, on the west of the village there is a cape reminding of a lion's head from far.

Petrakis beach

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The very quiet beach of East Tsigounas, mostly known as Petrakis, is located 1km east of Lendas and 76km south of Heraklion. it is located on the foots of the steep and inhospitable slopes of Asterousia Mountains.

Gerokambos Roman Villa

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At this site, in 1981, a large building of the Roman period was found that probably operated as a mansion.

Gerokambos Domed Tomb

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At Gerokambos (Sacred Place) west of Lendas in 1959 three vaulted tombs were found, with the largest (diameter 5.10m) looted and empty. In front of the entrance, a hall was full of people and animal bones, charcoal and cups. In a second tomb figurines, daggers, vases, seals and beads were found.

Panagia Vithanos church at Krotos

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The cave church of Panagia at Vithanos is located in a panoramic position of the Loutra Gorge, near the village of Krotos. It is dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi (Life Giving Spring) and one can still see the date 20-5-1765 above the entrance.

Early Christian basilica of Lendas

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Lendas is a remote seaside settlement located in the imposing Asterousia Mountains, 74km south of Heraklion. The settlement is built on the site of the ancient city of Levena, which flourished in the Greco-Roman years, as the seaport of Gortyn, which was then the most important city of Crete.

Elephant beach in Lendas

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The small beach of the Elephant (Elefantas) is located between Cape Psamidomouri and the beach Petrakis in Lendas and directly below the Levinthos hotel, through which there is access.

Lendas

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