|
| ISLANDS A-Z | CRETE | CYCLADES | DODECANESE | EASTERN AEGEAN |
| IONIAN | SARONIC | SPORADES | MAINLAND | ABOUT US |
Margarites and Ancient Eleutherna in Crete |
 |
|
About 30 kilometres east of Rethymno lies the nice little village of Margarites. The village has a long tradition of pottery manufacture and it is commonly referred to as the potters' village. There are plenty of workshops in the village, and even more shops selling all sorts of potteries. West of Margarites and Ancient Eleftherna lies the Arkadia Monastery, one of Crete's - and Greece's - most important monasteries.
A pottery shop in Margarites.
Some things are mass-produced and are regarded as rubbish, but there are also pottery of very high quality made by skilled potters. If you are not interested in pottery, you can as an alternative have lunch in the square from where it is a wonderful view down into the beautiful valley.
Another pottery shop in Margarites.
Another pottery shop in Margarites.
Pottery shop selling high quality ceramics. |
|
 If you are interested in ceramics, you must not miss the village of Margarites.
It is a real pleasure to wander aimlessly around the old village of Margarites.
A beautiful door in Margarites. What's hiding in there?
Taverna with a view in Margarites. |
|
Just west of Margarites lies Ancient Eleutherna, an excavation area with great archaeological interest. Here are, among other things, the remains of a Roman tower, large water cisterns from Roman times, a Hellenistic city, an ancient bridge and a large necropolis.
 The Roman water cisterns of Ancient Eleuthera.
The water cisterns of Ancient Eleuthera are one of Crete's least known attractions.
Map of Ancient Eleutherna.
The area is gigantic. When we were here we strolled around for hours without becoming much wiser. Outside the entrances, there are more than one entrance , there are maps of the area, but unfortunately we saw no information signs. |
 Excavations in Ancient Eleuthera.
The area of Ancient Eleuthera is gigantic.
The Roman watchtower in Ancient Eleuthera. |
WHAT YOU MUST NOT MISS WHEN YOU ARE IN THE AREA |
