TOWN AND VILLAGES

IN PALEKASTRO AREA

Toplou Monastery

One of the most picturesque villages of Crete, Zakros is located 19,5km from Palekastro. It has 1050 inhabitants, farmers, producing mainly olive oil. Kato Zakros is a small coastal village, site of the fourth large Minoan Palace, located 7,5km from Zakros at the bay of the same name.Within a few distance from the village of Zakros, starts the Gorge, which ends at the bay of Kato Zakros, almost near the Palace area. This gorge is of outstanding beauty, with large caves in its walls.
In those caves were discovered tombs from the Minoan period, and finds of great archaeological importance. That is the reason why the caves are named "The Caves of Deads" and the gorge "The Gorge of Deads.  In Kato Zakros 1961 a great Greek archaeoligist N.Platon unearthed the fourth largest Minoan Palace.
Nowadays in Kato Zakros live a few people, occuping with farming, and fishing. There are some taverns and bars available for the visitors.
 

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