Church of Saint Nicholas at Rodopos
At Rodopou Peninsula and not too far from the village Rodopos, we meet the plateau of Agios Nikolaos. Agios Nikolaos is one of the largest plateaus of the peninsula, smaller than that of Gionas, which in the past was cultivated. In the middle of the plateau, we meet the modern temple of Saints Constantine and Helen. Right next to the modern temple still stands the Byzantine church of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos).
This temple also gives the toponym on the plateau, which even today, that the temple is dilapidated, retains its name. The temple interior does not bear hagiographies, but it keeps some rough charcoal marks. Next to the temple there are the ruins of old rooms and walls with a cistern that indicates that the temple probably functioned as a monastery.
From the church starts a path that after an hour's walk reaches the Byzantine monastery of Saint Anthony, also inactive. The amazing element that makes the church of Saint Nicholas unique is its incomparable gate, made of limestone, that has been transported there from a coastal quarry of the peninsula. The gate of the temple ends up in a sharp arc, with carved stones, which at the end form two snakes that meet, being one of the most beautiful church gates in Crete.
From the church of Agios Nikolaos starts the path to cross the imposing and wild canyon of Agios Nikolaos, which from the plateau takes one and a half hours to the end on the sea. The plateau of Agios Nikolaos has also the largest karstic sinks throughout the peninsula.
