Livadi Plateau at Kroussonas
The plateau Livadi is located 9km west of the village Kroussonas and 35km southwest of Heraklion, on the eastern slopes of Psiloritis Range. It is a beautiful place to visit, especially in spring when the 300.000 pear and apple trees bloom. The quiet green plateau with the background of the bare peaks of Psiloritis is a unique landscape. The plateau can be accessed via a passable dirt road starting from Kroussonas, which passes alongside the gorge of Kroussonas and there are many signs leading there. Livadi has experienced an unprecedented period of economic growth during the recent years, as landowners have built several mountain lodgings attracting visitors all year round.
Do not expect to see a meadows (Livadi means meadow), as the plateau takes its name after a beautiful prairie that once existed there, but was destroyed completely after some harmful interventions by the locals. Moreover, in many places the water form short lakes and via underground rivers cross the underground river of Sarhos and, from there, it is believed that they reach the springs of Almyros. It is also surprising to see the large number of churches that have been built by locals. Some of the churches here are Saint Methodius, Saint Haralambos, Saint George and Phocas, Saint Onuphrius, Saint Eleftherios and Emmanouel, the stone church of Saint Marina with the tall trees in its yard, and Saint Anne.
From the plateau, a dirt road leads to ancient Zominthos and Saint Marina, where it meets the road linking Anogia to the Nida Plateau. Thus, an alternative route that someone could follow to explore Psiloritis from Heraklion is the road from Livadi (rather than the classic road leading to Anogia via Tylissos).
