The second week we rented a car, which gave us a lot more freedom
to travel farther afield. We visited a Minoan necropolis at Armeni near Rethymnon
on the way back from Phestos.
Another trip took us to Kokkino Horio, on the coast not far from Neo Horio,
to see Roman-build wells, a Roman cemetery, a modern Cretan glassworks where
the glass from old bottles was blown into lovely vases, decanters and glasses,
and Aptera with its Minoan, Roman and Turkish ruins. Another day we drove west
from Chania to Kastelli (the port for Polyrinia), then inland to Sirikari where
I dropped the fellows who hiked to Polyrinia, which was an important Minoan
city.
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The Minoan necropolis at Armeni, south of Rethymnon.The graves are cut
into the rock. |
Minoan graves in the necropolis near Armeni, south of Rethymnon. The
graves were not the only thing to see. The whole area was covered in wild
flowers including tiny iris
and lovely pink orchids
(Orchis italica). |
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A grave in a Roman cemetery near Kokkino Horio, north of Vamos, 10 or
15 km east of Neo Horio. |
Roman wells near Vamos. There were at least a dozen wells scattered
around a small field at the foot of a hill; some had been covered with
concrete and were still in use. Others, like these, had their original
stone roofs. |
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Another of the Roman wells. All the wells seemed to have water in them.
The Romans conquered Crete in 67 BC. |
| About 5 km due north of Neo Horio lie the ruins of Aptera. In Minoan times
it was one of the largest cities of Crete. High above the entrance to Souda
Bay, it was an ideal trading location. After the Minoans, the city was inhabited
by Dorians. These huge cisterns were built by the Romans. |
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At Aptera, there are ruins of a Greek temple, Roman buildings including
a theatre, and a Byzantine monastery. Unfortunately when we were there the
fence around the Roman ruins was locked so we could not get close to them. |
| More of the ruins at Aptera. In the distance you can see the Acrotiri
peninsula across Souda Bay. |
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The Turkish fortress at Aptera, high above the entrance to Souda Bay. |
| The Turkish fortress from the Roman ruins. In the background is the entrance
to Souda Bay. |
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The Turkish fortress at Aptera |
| The gateway into the Turkish fortress at Aptera |
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The massive walls of the Turkish fortress at Aptera |
| Inside the fortress at Aptera, looking down on Souda Bay and the Akrotiri
peninsula, north of Chania. |
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Ruins of an old mill in Polyrinia, about 5 km south of Kastelli. Polyrinia
was a Minoan city. I walked around for hours looking for the Minoan ruins.
I found a Greek chapel and lots of beautiful wildflowers
but no ruins. But I did find Bill and the boys who had hiked from Sirikari. |
