Agiofarago Gorge
Agiofarago Gorge is located in south of Panagia Odigitria Monastery and has been shaped near the beds of two streams. The first stream starts north - northeast from Gyalomonochoro and the other starts west of the village Pigaidakia. The two streams merge, near the chapel of Saint Kiriaki and after following a relatively smooth path, the united stream forms the main gorge Agiofarago that ends on the amazing beach Agiofarago. Along the route in the gorge, vertical cliffs with caves rise, but the course in the flat bed of the stream is very easy and smooth. Just before reaching the sea, there is a climbing field and it is very common to see some climbers.
The name Agiofarago means Gorge of Saints and is taken after the hermits who formed the most important hermitage in Central Crete, since the early Christian Times, after Saint Paul passed from the area. According to a legend, three hundred hermits lived here in absolute isolation from each other. They met only once a year in the Cave Goumenospilios and counted themselves to see who had died the previous year. Going down the canyon before reaching the cave Goumenospilios, one meets the church of Saint Anthony (Agios Antonios), which became the center of the asceticism of the area, when the hermits started forming a religious community. The church of Saint Anthony is believed to have been renovated three times to get its current form. First it was a small church in a small cave in the rock, but as the years passed and the number of hermits increased, a larger church was needed and it was extended. The last renovation took place in the 14th or 15th century. Outside the church there is a small well from which water was supplied to the hermits because there is no spring nearby. South of the church on a small hill there is a circular Minoan tomb which shows the human presence from Minoan era.
There are several ways you can get to Agiofarago. By boat you can go from ports of Kokkinos Pirgos, Agia Galini or Kali Limenes. You can also reach through a dirt road starting from the historic Monastery of Odigitria near Sivas, to which the area belongs. From the monastery you continue straight, following the signs to Agiofarago and descend into the gorge, until you find a dead end and a small parking area. Be careful not to leave your car under the trees as it is likely to be damaged by goats climbing on the roof to eat the tender leaves from the trees. The time it takes to hike in the gorge from the parking to the sea is around 25-35 minutes.
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