Milopotamos

In the middle of the distance of Heraklion and Rethymnon and just before reaching Bali, right on the highway we meet the church of Panagia (Our Lady) Charakiani. It is the largest pilgrimage in the entire prefecture of Rethymnon. During the first 15 days of August many people gathered, especially on the old days, and stayed in small huts around the temple till the day of the Assumption during which the small church celebrates.

The Monastery of Saint Nektarios at Anogia is a female modern monastery built in a beautiful wooded location with nice view to the neighborhood Perahori of Anogia town.

The church saves two layers of frescoes. The oldest layer is located in the west corner dates back to the 11th century. The frescoes of the south part of the corss dates back to 1323.

The basilica was excavated in 1948 by K. Kalokyris and N. Platon, and was built in the 5th-6th century, like most seaside basilicas of that era. It was violently destroyed by Arab invasion in the 7th century, but continued to be used till the 9th century.

The Church of the Zoodohos Pigi (Life Giving Fountain) at position Drakonero functioned as a monastery during the Venetian period. It is the largest cruciform church with a dome of Crete (of that era). Inside the church there is one of the nicest arcosolium (Venetian tomb) of the 16th century with coat of arms of Tzangarolo family. A part of the frescoes still survives (Peter and Paul, Our Lady enthroned etc).

The church of Agios Dimitrios is a very special four aisled Byzantine basilica with a dome in the fourth aisle. A nave survives with a frescoes of St. Demetrius. It is considered to have served as the Diocese of Ario and was built at the site of an ancient temple of goddess Artemis (Diana).

At the picturesque village Keramota in province Mylopotamos we meet one of the several monumental trees of Crete. This is the perennial plane tree at the eastern end of the village. The tree in Keramota belongs to the species of Platanus orientalis and its age is estimated at about 2000 years. It is the oldest tree in province Mylopotamos and although it is located on the main road, almost everyone ignores its existence as it is located a few meters further down the road, thus the drivers see the upper part of it.

Close to the beach of Pera Galini there are the ruins of a former monastery, dedicated to Saint Anthony, from which only the chapel survives. This monastery was probably abandoned and deserted due to the constant pirate raids in the Venetian Era. The monastery is built next to a very interesting river with huge plane trees, which concludes at the beach, however water is contaminated due to the landfill.