A Lion, a Port, and the Magnificent Beach of Lentas

Agios Ioannis Beach

Agios Ioannis is a coastal village located at the mouth of the Goula Gorge, approximately 73 kilometres south of Heraklion, near Kapetaniana.

The route to Agios Ioannis is breath-taking, as it winds along cliffs with stunning views of the Cretan Sea.

Adjacent to the village, there is a small sheltered beach known as Mikros Varkotopos, featuring pebbles and an intriguing seabed filled with rocks. To the west of the village, you'll find Megalos Varkotopos, a larger pebbly beach that isn't equipped with facilities but attracts local residents for swimming. In the vicinity of this beach, there are rooms available for rent and cafés.

Be sure not to miss the opportunity to purchase salt from the region, which is harvested from the natural salt pans of Koudoumas!

Photo by Cristian Palmer on Unsplash

Agios Ioannis is a coastal village located at the mouth of the Goula Gorge, approximately 73 kilometres south of Heraklion, near Kapetaniana.

The route to Agios Ioannis is breath-taking, as it winds along cliffs with stunning views of the Cretan Sea.

Adjacent to the village, there is a small sheltered beach known as Mikros Varkotopos, featuring pebbles and an intriguing seabed filled with rocks. To the west of the village, you'll find Megalos Varkotopos, a larger pebbly beach that isn't equipped with facilities but attracts local residents for swimming. In the vicinity of this beach, there are rooms available for rent and cafés.

Be sure not to miss the opportunity to purchase salt from the region, which is harvested from the natural salt pans of Koudoumas!

Photo by Cristian Palmer on Unsplash

Heraklion

Trafoulas: The Beach Preferred by King Minos

Crete offers an abundance of beaches, leaving both visitors and locals with the delightful dilemma of deciding which one to choose.

Indeed, the South of Crete holds a magical charm, with its unparalleled and unique seas that captivate all who experience them.

It's quite possible that Minos, the king of Knossos, had a similar fascination with the mesmerising seas of Crete. According to tradition, he was known to bathe at the beach of Trafoulas (or Trachoulas), which further highlights the allure of the island's coastal beauty.

To feel like a king, all you need to do is take a dive into the enchanting waters of Crete.

Crete offers an abundance of beaches, leaving both visitors and locals with the delightful dilemma of deciding which one to choose.

Indeed, the South of Crete holds a magical charm, with its unparalleled and unique seas that captivate all who experience them.

It's quite possible that Minos, the king of Knossos, had a similar fascination with the mesmerising seas of Crete. According to tradition, he was known to bathe at the beach of Trafoulas (or Trachoulas), which further highlights the allure of the island's coastal beauty.

To feel like a king, all you need to do is take a dive into the enchanting waters of Crete.

Heraklion

A Lion, a Port, and the Magnificent Beach of Lentas

Lentas, (the ancient port Levin), is a coastal port located in the province of Kainourgio (Kenourgio) facing the Libyan Sea.

As per Wikipedia, the name Lentas is pre-Hellenic and can be traced back to either the Phoenician word ‘Lavi’, meaning lion, or the ancient pre-Greek term ‘Levynthos’. According to mythology, one of the lions that pulled Rhea's chariot turned into stone at this location, hence the name Levin. However, it is more probable that the name is derived from the nearby cape, which resembles a lion when viewed from a specific angle.

Lentas, (the ancient port Levin), is a coastal port located in the province of Kainourgio (Kenourgio) facing the Libyan Sea.

As per Wikipedia, the name Lentas is pre-Hellenic and can be traced back to either the Phoenician word ‘Lavi’, meaning lion, or the ancient pre-Greek term ‘Levynthos’. According to mythology, one of the lions that pulled Rhea's chariot turned into stone at this location, hence the name Levin. However, it is more probable that the name is derived from the nearby cape, which resembles a lion when viewed from a specific angle.

Heraklion