AIDONOCHORIASTYRAKI - KAMARAKIGONIESDAMASTAKAMARIKAMARIOTISKERAMOYTSIMARATHOSMONITYLISOSAIDONOCHORI Picturesque village west of Tylisos, 20 minutes drive from Tylisos (17km). The settlement is found in a height of 565m. inside an excellent environment with forestal expanses and holm-oak forests of magnificent natural beauty. Here is the impressive Secondary School, built in 1900.
At the site of Armanogia there are traces of Hellenistic period while in areas of Trochaliades and Chantakou the ruins of the existing buildings betray the life of the Minoans of the area. In the Sopata area an immense round stone shows us the place of sacrifices, at the period of idolatry. Main occupations of residents are agriculture and stock farming.
View of Aidonochori
Primary School (1900), Fountain of Aidonochori
In Armanogia traces of settlement of Hellenistic period
Minoan remains in Trochaliades and Chantakou
Plate in Sopata area (place of sacrifices)
Β. Natural Environment Skalia area with a lot of green, Prinias area and Kolenia area until the Chalevro area (approximately 300 acres) with also a lot of green create a lanscape of special interest
C. Useful Information Tel.number of Municipal Department’s office 2810-510222
ASTIRAKI Astyraki village is in a distance of 15 minutes west of Tylisos (13 km). It is built in a height of 550 meters, at the foot of Psiloritis Mountain with spectacular view and magnificent caves. The natural life of residents makes them the most long-living of the region.
Here, the sacred tree was an Astirakas, a plant used from the ancient years for the production of incense. The ancients Cretans worshipped Apollo as a Stirakit, a tree divinity, the heir of the immemorial god of vegetation. As a matter of fact, there also was the Stirakion Mountain.
Nowadays, most of the residents are occupied with agriculture, stock farming and apiculture. There are also considerable cultivations of garden products and of forestal areas. In the sights of the village are also contained: the church of Agios Konstantinos and the impressive Spiliara cave. In the village there are traditional rooms to let.
View of Astiraki
KAMARAKIKamaraki is a settlement of Astiraki. Here is located an admirable natural monument not only for the village but for the broader area of the Municipality as well, a magnificent cave called Chainospilo, with impressive stalagmites. In the village there are traditional accommodations for rent.
View of Kamaraki
Perennial Astirakas
Churches: Agios Konstantinos, Agios Antonios (Kamaraki)
Β. Natural Environment Caves: Spiliara – Chimaros, Chainospilio (in Kamaraki)
Remarkable areas are also “Koumou – Kefali”, “Dimani”, “Demata” (approachable by road) and “Arapena” which have forests with holm-oaks as well as “Vothonas” next to Armanogia which is a forest with holm-oaks and oaks.
C. Useful Information Tel. Number of Municipal Department’s Office 2810-510150
Cultural Society - Events
D. Accomodation – Gastronomy – Recreation Areas Elena’s rooms to let and five traditional cafeterias
GONIES Gonies village, in a height of 620 meters, retain the features of a mountainous settlement and is scaled on “Filiorimo” height of Psiloritis Mountain, 11 kilometers away from Tylisos, with unique monuments such as the plateau of Evdomou. At the top of the “Filorimo” height was found a Minoan Summit Sanctuary. Here we will admire, due to the location of the village, the Minoan palace of Sklavokampos.
On the east of the settlement are the Archontika, the district of the powerful of the village, in the old days. In the same district there is a Venetian fountain –the old aqueduct of Gonies- as well as the Byzantine church of Virgin Mary (the Assumption of the Virgin), built in the 13th century, with murals and carven chancels. At its foothills there is a reconditioned windmill built in 1904-1905 and on its top, the small church of Prophet Helias. When they were digging to fund it, a “high-passable” of the Minoan era was revealed, consisted by two contiguous rooms. Out of the village, at the length of the crossroad to Kamaraki, there is a watermill, saved in a quite good condition, which has been announced as a retainable monument.
The most ancient reference of the settlement is made in a Venetian contract in 1333. Gonies had always been a rebellious village. “The only village that didn’t bow”, as the Gonians characteristically say. It was repeatedly destructed by the Turks, and the most extravagant incident was the execution of 74 villagers in 1830. The residents are occupied with agriculture and stock-farming.
View of Gonies
Picturesque village, district with traditional Mansions
Old Aqueduct
Churhes: Virgin Mary of 13th century, Prophet Helias, etc)
Minoan Palace of Sklavokampos (1500 b.c.)
Filiorimos – Minoan Summit Sanctuary
Windmill (1904)
Watermill few metres out of the village
Β. Natural Environment Plateau of Evdomou (Kato and Epano Lakkos, fountain, cheese-dairy)
Gonian Gorge – Monument of those killed
Caves – Chasms (Psistraki, Tsakalos, etc)
C. Useful Information Tel. Number of Municipal Department’s Office 2810-510052
Service of citizens on issues of Farmers’ Security Organisation takes place every Friday.
Cultural Society - Eventsς
D. Accomodation – Gastronomy – Recreation AreasThere are three traditional cafeterias.
MARATHOS In a distance of 21 minutes (13 km) away from Tylisos, while crossing a truly wonderful route through the mountains, lies the village of Marathos which is confined by mountains. It is a mountainous village and its residents are occupied with stock-farming, apiculture and cultivation of olive not only for the production of olive-oil, but also for the famous raisin-olive of Marathos. At the foot of the mountain lies the famous cave Arkaliospilio, which remains mostly unexplored and is being said to extend within a big part of the mountain. Inside the village there are 5 tavernas and a traditional cafeteria where the visitor can taste the truly unique tastes of Cretan cuisine with the pure traditional materials and the unique Cretan care.
Also famous is the women’s association of Marathos “The xobliasto (with patterns) koulouraki” in which, apart from the homonymous product, all kinds of traditional sweets are being produced such as melomakarona (honey-fingers), kourampiedes (sugared shortbreads), kalitsounia as well as kneaded bread. Sticking to the tradition, the famous “koumparokouloura” (best man’s scones) are being produced, which are given to the best man or godfather in every wedding or christening.
We can singularly feel the magic of the unexplored Crete by following the agrarian road towards Fodele (7 kilometers) where we will meet the monastery of Agios Panteleimonas which is located within a beautiful wild forest. During all this green course with the platens and all kinds of trees we are accompanied at a small distance by the Marathian river which lets out in Fodele.
Every June, the cultural association of Marathos organizes the celebration of the “resain-olive”, where apart from the product of honour, traditional foods are also offered (snails with groats, magkiri, apaki etc.)
View of Marathos
Monument of those killed
Exhibition of sculptures of Marathian sculptor Ioanni Klinaki, under construction in the area of the old oil-mill
Churches: Agios Charalabos (Byzantine) & Monastery of Agios Panteleimonas of 17th century in the road towards Fodele
Β. Natural Environment Caves: Doxa, Arkalospilio
Marathian River – flume from Doxa up to Fodele
C. Useful Information Tel. Number of Municipal Department’s Office 2810-521341
Service of citizens on issues of Farmers’ Security Organisation takes place every Tuesday.
Cooperative of Women of Marathos “The xobliasto koulouraki”
Events of Marathos’s cultural association - celebration of the “resain-olive” in June
D. Accomodation – Gastronomy – Recreation AreasThere are 5 taverns and a traditional cafeteria
MONI Ascending from Tylisos towards Gonies, in a distance less than 5 minutes (2 km) and at a height of 240 metres we will find the village of Moni. Moni is reported in the inventory of the Guardian of Castle as Mogni with 50 residents in 1583 while in the Turkish inventory of 1881 are recorded 197 Christians and 2 Muslim residents.
From Moni comes the ranger Nikolaos Kavrochorianos who fell heroically fighting in Cyprus during the episodes of 1974. Here is the country chapel of Agios Georgios and Holy Cross “Chimeftou” (Juicer), which is built in an idyllic green location and is surrounded by big heels. There is a spring with cool water which refreshes the visitors of the village. The name of the location comes from the Latin word Humektus which means a cool, wet, area or from the word Humus or humos (which means “juice”).
On the east there are signs of an older sacred temple and at a distance of a hundred and fifty meters from the current temple there is a carved cell in a rock. It is a place of unbelievable natural beauty, that even the brush of the best painter could hardly ascribe it.
A route of special interest is also the route from the Gorge (Kastelos) towards Koule which ends up in “Chimeftou” where there are abandoned Turkish houses. The fertile ground in combination with the soft climate gives the region the possibility of production of a wide range of agricultural products such as potatoes, garden products, raisins, grapes and olives from which they are been produced respectively wine/raki and oil of an exceptional quality. At the same time, important is the occupation of residents with the stock-farming and the production of cheese products.
In the village the visitor can relax in the fountain located in the square of the village and taste the rich dishes in the traditional cafeteria – raki house which is found opposite the fountain.
Fountain in Moni
Points of Interest
Α. Places of Interest
Monument for those killed during 1940-1944 in the entrance of the village and Tomb of Nikolaos Kavrochorianos in the church of Evaggelistrias.
Churches: Agia Paraskevi (Patron Saint) & Agios Ioannis, Evaggelistria, Agia Marina, Church of Agios Georgios and Holy Cross (Country Chapel).
Β. Natural Environment Location “Chymeftou” – Spring
Route from the Gorge (Kastelos) towards Koule – “Chimeftou”
C. Useful Information Tel. Number of Municipal Department’s Office 2810-831460
Service of citizens on issues of Farmers’ Security Organisation takes place every Thursday from 08:00 to 10:00 pm.
Festival of Agia Paraskevi on 26/7
Cultural Association - Events
D. Accomodation – Gastronomy – Recreation AreasTraditional cafeteria – raki house
TYLISOS The capital of the Municipality, Tylisos is located on the eastern foot of Psiloritis, in a valley wooded by olive-trees and vineyards and in a distance of 15 minutes (12km) from Heraklion. It is proud of its name, which is retained the same for at least 3.400 years. It is the sole toponym from those read in the signs of Linear B writing of Knossos which continued being used without cease until today!
Patron saint is Agios Nikolaos, built at the end of 19th century, and on the 6th December, at his feast, fried haddock is served. The oldest church of the village is Christ (Metamorphosis of the Savior), with saved murals of the early 14th century. In the square of Tylisos there is a reconstructed Venetian fountain, with two arches and two faucets, as well as many coffee-houses of different times. Some of the houses have neo-classical elements in their form, while two mansions of the early 20th century, in the centre of the village, have been announced retainable. Most of them are reconditioned, but maintain their original, simple architectonical form.
In Tylisos were found 3 big buildings which were characterized by I. Chatzidakis as “Residences”. These 3 buildings belong to the after Minoan period and were constituted by open courtyards, stairwells, rooms for the domestic staff, corridors, devotional areas, etc. Also, in the area was found a network of water supply. The area could be visited during all year while the discoveries are exposed in the archaeological museum of Heraklion.
Here we will meet the “Slate”. It is located opposite the church of Agios Georgios in Syriana. According to the tradition, what is now a slate (a contiguous stone), once was a cultivable field. Its owner was a farmer, and he was seeding it. One year he pleaded Agios Georgios to help him finish the tillage and seeding in order to make it to go to church for his sake (3rd November is Ag. Georgios the inebriate’s celebration). Indeed, Ag. Georgios helped him and he finished. The next year the same happened. The same was done the third year too. But the following, when he pleaded the Saint for the same reason, not only didn’t he help him, but in order to punish him he made his field infertile, a slate.
Residents’ main occupation is agriculture with the cultivation of olive and vineyard and the stock-farming. Many residents are also occupied with aviculture and apiculture.
View of Tylisos
Archaeological area – Minoan Residences
Pyrgos Summit: Sanctuary of Minoan era (2000 bc)
Traditional Settlement “Katsiladochori”
Churches: Agios Nikolaos of 19th century, Lord Christ of 14th century, Virgin Mary in Loutra, Virgin Mary Kera, Monastery of Agios Antonios (ruins in Katsiladochori), Agios Ioannis.
Venetian Fountain – Square
Watermill of Vasilogiannakis (Karas Milos area) 500-700 metres before Agios Georgios in Syriana
Β. Natural Environment Strouboula Plateau (Holy Cross, Agios Georgios)
Voulismeno Aloni (Natural monument)
Slate in Syriana location (Opposite of Agios Georgios)
Keri area – Gorge of Almiros
Caves: Trapeza, Kamilari, etc
Spring of Agios Mamas
C. Useful Information Tel. Number of Municipal Department’s Office 2810-831220, 2813-403700
Open from Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 3:00pm
Handicraft Activity
Cultural Association – Events (Fest of haddock on 5/12 etc)
“Cultural August”, events of Municipality of Tylisos every summer in all the Municipal Departments (Music – Theatrical Nights, etc)
D. Accomodation – Gastronomy – Recreation Areas Arolithos traditional village (tavern, coffee-house, museum, cafeterias), Kares Land (tavern, cafeteria), Tavern-Grill house, Pizzeria-Flawn house, Titbit house-Coffee house, Cafeterias
