Description of the attraction
75 km south-west of Heraklion, on the western shore of the Mesar Valley, there is the small resort village of Matala and the beach of the same name. The picturesque bay, in which the village is located, is surrounded on both sides by rocky mountains with many caves. Matala Beach is considered one of the best beaches in Crete.
The history of this settlement is rooted in the distant past, in the Neolithic era. It was then that numerous caves were artificially created in the rocks surrounding the bay, which are used as dwellings. Probably, the ancient settlement reached its heyday in the Minoan era, when on the site of today's village was the harbor of the city of Festus - one of the most important centers of Minoan civilization. During the period of Roman rule, Matala was also a port, but already the ancient Roman city of Gortyna. In the 1st and 2nd centuries A. D. ancient caves were used for the burial of the dead. One of the caves is called Brutospeliana ("Brutus's Cave"), as according to an ancient legend, the famous Roman commander Brutus visited it.
For a long time Matala was a small fishing village. It began to acquire its tourist popularity in the 60s of the last century. Then the picturesque bay and ancient caves were chosen by hippies. But after the collapse of one of the caves and the death of a man, free access to the cave was closed. Today, the cave tombs are protected by the archaeological service and are available to tourists as part of an organized excursion.
Matala mainly lives on tourism. Warm and crystal clear Libyan Sea, gentle sun, gorgeous sandy beach, picturesque nature, cozy hotels and apartments, cafes and taverns with traditional cuisine - there is everything you need for a comfortable and relaxing stay.
