⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗

Major cities of Crete are home to impressive architectural structures, mainly from the Venetian and the Ottoman Era. Forts, scenic harbors, palaces, fountains and temples are the main attractions of the cities. On the other hand, the interesting attractions in the hinterland include arched bridges, water and wind mills, aqueducts, cisterns and chapels.

Venetian and Ottoman architectural patterns, combined with features of folklore architecture, are evident in contemporary houses. Arched gates since the Venetian era, and sahnisi (protruding covered balcony) since the Ottoman era, are some of the features used even today.

The traditional rural house is an evolution of the prehistoric home dwelling; it is constructed with stone, branches and soil, while wooden beams support the roof. To the interior, there is space for animals, while the main features include a stone-built wine press covered by with a wooden platform, a fireplace for cooking and heating, and some niches in the walls for storing household utensils.

Some of the most interesting traditional buildings, perfectly adapted to the needs and particularities of the mountainous areas of Crete, are mitata. They are round domed buildings, made solely of dry stone, being an evolution of the domed Minoan tombs. Mitata provided shelter to shepherds and were used for milking goats and cheese-making. They are met in all ranges of Crete, but Nida plateau near Anogia is the most famous place to come across such constructions.

Amigdali near Kalo Horio

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It is located on the hillside that stretches above Kalo at province Merambelo, to the north of the Monastery Faneromeni. Because of fear experienced by locals during the German occupation, they were forced to leave the fertile plain of Kalo Chorio and to climb up the barren mountain where they felt safer.

Platys River bridge

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A beautiful and unknown stone bridge with one arch is located in the middle of Platys River, once linked the provinces Amari and Agios Vasileios. Below it you can enjoy a refreshing bath, as there is a quite large pond.

Plati watermill

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One of the mills in Lassithi plateau preserved in quite good condition is the watermill of Plati, located on a slope slightly higher than the village in a wooded location with old oaks, platans and other trees. The watermill in Plati hosts a large stone cistern where water was collected and used later for grinding the grain.

Lygenia Wells

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On a plateau of Apokoronas province, by the village Paleloni, you will find the area Lygenia Wells. Is a series of stone, round and quite deep wells that the villagers constructed in the past in order to increase water source. In winter the wells overflow and shape a small lake in the area.

Asfendami windmills

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During the battle of Lassithi in 1867, the 10 windmills that stood near Potami village and were mainly used for milling, were destroyed by the Turks. The windmill park was then moved to Katakalou and Asfendami areas, and later moved to the big mill park of Ambelos.

Nikithianos windmills

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North of Nikithianos village, Merambelo district, we still meet one of the most impressive windmill parks of Crete. There are still standing several windmills in a row. Others survive in good condition and others have collapsed.

Astraki Bridge

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The bridge of the village Kato Astraki is called Astrakiani Kamara (Arch of Astraki) and is located a few meters away from the village, on the banks of the River Karteros. Astrakiani Kamara is a magnificent and well preserved arched stone bridge built in the 16th century and is one of the most beautiful of Crete. The bridge was built to connect Astraki with Sgourokefali and the villages of the eastern side of the river Karteros.

Koxare Bridge

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Between the villages Koxare and Atsipades we meet the wonderful stone arched bridge of Koxare (named Old Arch), which served the residents of the two villages in past times. The river below the bridge runs through the canyon Kourtaliotis and ends at Preveli beach.

Architecture

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