Relax and discover ...
Matala is famous for its history. Once, God father Zeus here appears from the depths of the sea the Phoenician princess Europe who gave our continent its name.
Here the Romans hit impressive grave caves into the rock and inside of these caves the hippies founded their alternative eldorado in the sixties of the last century.
Matala is a lively and quiet place today. Numerous tavern and bars are to be found at the beautiful fine gravel and sandy beach.
You can, however, relax next to the busy Matala bay on wider impressive beaches. I.e.. at the romantic "Red Beach" which can be reached over a mountain path. Or at the neighbouring, altogether 14 km long "Komo Beach" which is only a few minutes away by car.
From there you have a one magnificent look over the clear blue sea as far as to the enormous Ida Mountains.
The "Komo Beach" is by the way under conservation since the rare Caretta sea turtles put their eggs down here. Remains of old settlements are also to be found here.
Beautiful beaches and breathtaking coastal strips in the surroundings aren't the only "must see's" but also millennium altos witnesses to the first very advanced civilizations of Europe.
It is only 10 minutes by car to Phaistos, the old Minoan Palace. Gortis, the former Roman metropolis of Crete which went down approx. 2,000 years ago, is in a distance of a quarter hour.
And these are only some of the numerous excursion possibilities ....
