his route is an opportunity to visit Prefecture' s top sites as Kourtaliotikos gorge and Preveli Monastery. Following the same road which goes to Ayia Galini through Amari Valley we arrive in the village of Koxare (23 km). After the village, the road travels through the impressive Kourtaliotiko gorge, formed by two mountains. The gorge begins in Koxare village and continues along the course of the Kourtaliotis river. The gorge is narrow and wildly beautiful. On its bare sides are numerous springs and caves. The Kourtaliotis river which flows through it rises at five big springs, which form a waterfall 40 m. high.

		radition says that this was the area chosen as a hermitage by a monk called Nicholas, with a companion, who was unwilling to stay there, because, he said, there was no water. So the monk laid his hand on a rock and water immediately began to bubble out from the five points where his fingertips had touched. Today there is a church to St. Nicholas in the gorge, together with a little chapel to St George.
It contains a wall-painting showing the Holy Trinity, in which the Holy Spirit is shown emerging from the mouth of the Father. This treatment of the subject is unique in Greece.

e continue, passing through the village of Asomatos and at 33 km come to a turning for the historic Preveli Monastery. The Lower Preveli Monastery appears quite suddenly out of the greenery to the west of the Kourtaliotikos river. It stands by a bridge over the river.

oday, the monastery is deserted. Its main church is to John the Baptist and its belfry bears the date 1594. A further 3 km brings us to the Upper Preveli Monastery, which is the more important foundation today. The main church is dedicated to St John the Divine and the bell-tower is dated 1629.
		The monastery stands on a rocky site with such a fine view that many visitors come to admire that alone. The foundation was established in the 16th or early 17th century and the double-aisle main church was erected in 1836, under the Venetians. Inside the monastery is a gold Crucifix incorporating pieces of the True Cross and precious stones, that is regarded as miraculous.

rom the Lower Preveri Monastery the guest is suggested to follow the path that leads down through an idyllic landscape, to the coast near the point where Kourtaliotikos river runs into the sea.

		Here the river forms a little lagoon surrounded with palm trees before joining its waters with those of the sea. The gorge is worth exploring along the river-bank path. The scenery is exotic, with the palm trees all around and the green waters of the river flowing quietly or more rapidly through pools or over little waterfalls. The gorge ends at the beautiful beach, with rocks to the right and left. Don't miss the chance to enjoy the unique crystal-clear water!

Photos and text taken from "Crete - today and yesterday" and "Crete - A tour of all the towns and villages" (Toubis Editions)

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