Near Potami dam, province Amari, and south of village Harkia, in a lush green position with plane trees we meet the abandoned convent of Panagia Eleousa, dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi (Life Giving Spring). We can reach this point through a sign on the main road surrounding the dam. The place hosts the small church dating back to the Venetian Era and bearing some traces of frescoes.
The Cathedral of Saint John is located at Episkopi, province Mylopotamos, and is a cruciform temple with a dome. It was built in the 13th century on the ruins of an early Christian basilica of the 5th century. It became the cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Avlopotamos during the Venetian Era. Inside, on the surving dome we meet some frescoes of the 14th century following the Palaeologean style.
At the abandoned settlement of Frathias, near the monastery of Xera Xyla, there is the church of Saint John, which for once was the temple of a small monastery. The church is single-nave, arched and at the entrance there is the date 1590 indicated.
Atop the highest peak of Asterousia, Kofinas, stands the church of the Holy Cross and is accessed through a steep trail. On the Feast of Holy Cross, on September 14, dozens of people climb up there to participate in a ritual that has its roots in the Minoan times, when nature and trees were worshiped.
The church of Saint Panteleimon by Nopigia is a cruciform church of the 14-15th century and is one of the largest pilgrimages in the area of Kissamos. It is dedicated to St. Panteleimon, St Spyridon and St Charalambos.
The ruins of the Great Basilica (6th century AD) of Gortys are located 200m south of the main archaeological site, before arriving at Mitropolis village. The five-aisled temple, discovered accidentally in 1978, was the largest church in Crete. The temple was dedicated to St. Titus, but after its destruction by an earthquake (670AD), it was moved to the temple inside the current archaeological site.
According to residents of the village Agia Varvara , their village is located exactly in the center of Crete. They say that once two priests started walking, one from Sitia and the other from Chania, to share Crete in the middle.
Below the settlement Vrisses at Province Amari we meet the ghost settlement Smilé, which has been abandoned by the mid-20th century. Smilé during the Turkish occupation was inhabited by Ottomans, but nevertheless it retained the Christian church of the Virgin Mary (Panagia), which survives until today in a tragic condition.