Explore South Crete (Gortys - Phaistos – Matala ‘The Hippies Beach’)

Our first stop will Gortys or Gortyna, as it is called today was one of the strongest and most ancient towns of Crete.

One of the first Christian temples was built here and the remains of an important Christian cathedral of Crete can still be seen today. This cathedral, dedicated to St. Titus, the first Bishop of Crete. Gortyn is known today primarily because of the Gortyn Code which is both the oldest and most complete known example of a code of ancient Greek law.

After Gortys we will visit the Palace Phaistos is second in importance only to Knossos, from the archaeological point of view. It is built on a hill (at an altitude of 100 m., approximately, above sea level), and commands the fertile plain of Kato Messara, which is surrounded by impressive mountains (Psiloritis, Asteroussia, the Lasithi mountains far away in the background). To the south lies the Libyan Sea. According to mythology, the dynasty which ruled Phaistos was that of Rhadamanthys, son of Zeus and brother of Minos. It was a very strong, rich, populous and independent city.

Our last stop will be in Matala, only a small fishing village until a few years ago, has now developed into a modern holiday center. The most famous feature of the area is the many graves of the Roman and Cristian era, carved in the soft white limestone thousands of years ago in the northwest walls of the bay.

Many of them have rooms, stairs, beds, or windows, suggesting that they were once used as residences. The hippies of the '60s and '70s found their paradise in these caves when they visited and stayed in Matala. Hippies expressed themselves freely and enjoyed love and creation. The hallmark of the hippies was the two fingers of victory, followed by the slogan «Peace Man». Matala became so popular with hippies that attracted several celebrities such as Joni Mitchell (who sang a song for Matala called “Carey”), Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Joan Baez. However, all that stopped abruptly during the Greek dictatorship (‘70s).

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