Architecture

Northwest of the village Damania, on the road that heads to Arkadi village (Monofatsi province) we meet the hill of Kefala. Kefala has unique views to Damania and the beautiful dam-lake, the fertile plain of the village and other villages of Monofatsi. The whole area in the upper part of the hill is full of the remains of the village that was there centuries ago and is now completely deserted.

On the road leading from Galipe to Smari we meet the single-arched bridge of Galifa, which bridges River Galifianos. The arch was built in 1900 to serve the needs of the residents, mainly from Galifa.

Dyo Prini (Two Oak trees) is one of the beautiful abandoned villages of Crete, where you think that time has frozen. The area is surrounded by oak trees, as its name implies, and is located close to Limnes village, Agios Nikolaos Municipality, on the road heading to Kalos Lakkos. There are several collapsed stone cottages, some of which have been restored lately. There are many water tanks and threshing plateaus.

The ruined village Mikri Episkopi (i.e. Small Diocese) is located near Partira and was the seat of the Diocese of Arcadia. As expected, the village hosted an imposing temple, which has now collapsed. Columns and walls testify the importance of the temple.

In the Cretan dialect Xylodema means the makeshift fence that was built with dry shrubs to prevent the entry of goats and other animals in the rural properties. Xylodema is found as a toponym in several parts of Crete. One of them is at the entrance of plateau Askifou, at the highest point of the road that goes from the plateau to Krapi. From Xylodema the visitor has the best views across the plateau and the settlements Askifou and its forts.

Above the village Gonies we meet the beautiful windmill of Manousakis, built in 1904 for grinding grain. The restored mill, fully functional today, ceased its commercial operation in 1988, and it was impossible to overcome the technological development of the time.

One of the least known stone bridges of Crete is the bridge of Boutakas located between the villages Vrises, Embrosneros and Vafes at province Apokoronas. It is the newest of two stone bridges of that area (there is also the famous bridge Elliniki Kamara which is more than 2000 years old). The bridge is still in use by cars and was built during the last decade of the 19th century by local craftsmen.

The villages Ano Pines and Kato Pines hosted two separate sites with windmills. The first site is located at the area called 'Paliomili' high above the villages. The second is located at position Vorina near the village Kato Pines, with incredible views of the lagoon of Elounda.