Page 99 - BLUE INK 2018

Vai beach.
Bottom: The Cretan lyra is
the most popular surviving
form of the medieval
Byzantine lyra, an ancestor
of most European bowed
instruments.

groves rewards those who undertake its crossing. Southeast of Sitia, the
gorge of Nekron (the Dead) or Zakros includes a lovely route lined with
caves and ending at Kato Zakros with its magnificent waters. Another
interesting gorge is that of Trypiti in Heraclion, named after the church
of Panaghia Trypiti which is built in one of its caves. Part of the route
to Trypiti goes through Asterousia Mountains, Crete’s Far West. Finally,
the Samaria Gorge, one of the best known on the island, attracts most
visitors who want to reach the Libyan Sea while enjoying the rich flora
and fauna.

The sights that complete the puzzle
The Venetian fortress of Fortezza in Rethymno; ancient Falasarna and its
port; the ancient city of Lissos in southwest Crete; the Kazarma fortress
in Sitia; Dikteo Andro and Ideo Andro, vying for the title of birthplace of
Zeus in mythology; Spinalonga, with the amazing story of the leprosarium
televised by the Cretan filmmaker Thodoris Papadoulakis in the series The
Island, based on the novel by the English author Victoria Hislop; the Minoan
city of Kommos, a port at Phaestos; Zominthos, another Minoan city on
the uplands; and Gortyna, Crete’s capital during the Roman era – all are
occasions for discoveries beyond the popular Minoan palaces at Knossos,
Phaestos, Malia and Zakros.

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