These two archaeological sites are close together, so it makes sense to see them both on a day trip from Gavalochori. Matala is a village 110 kilometers (68 miles) southwest of Gavalochori that is most known for its “hippie caves.” Although these caves are often considered to be ancient Roman tombs, they were more likely places where people lived during the Neolithic period (7000-3000 BC). During the late 1960s and early 1970s, many young people lived in the caves, including singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, whose song “Carey” references the “Matala moon.” The caves are now fenced off and protected by the Archaeological Society, and, of course, people are no longer allowed to live in them. More information is available here.
A drive of just 23 kilometers (14 miles) will bring you from Matala to Gortyna (Γόρτυνα), where you can see remnants of a culture that dates back to Neolithic times. The city was most powerful, however, in the Roman period as the capital of Crete. In this compact archaeological site that straddles the main road, you can see the 6th-century Byzantine Church of Saint Titus, who was asked by Saint Paul to bring Christianity to Crete. Also at the site are remnants of the Gortyna legal code that laid out civil law for the city-state. It was written on the circular walls of what might have been a public building, and some of the text can still be seen. The code dealt with issues such as property rights, the ownership of slaves, and the rights of divorced or widowed women. You can also see the ruins of a theater, a palace, baths, and several temples here. Gortyna was destroyed in 828 by the Arabs or Saracens. It is 122 kilometers (76 miles) from Gavalochori. Find out more about Gortyna here.
These two archaeological sites are close together, so it makes sense to see them both on a day trip from Gavalochori. Matala is a village 110 kilometers (68 miles) southwest of Gavalochori that is most known for its “hippie caves.” Although these caves are often considered to be ancient Roman tombs, they were more likely places where people lived during the Neolithic period (7000-3000 BC). During the late 1960s and early 1970s, many young people lived in the caves, including singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, whose song “Carey” references the “Matala moon.” The caves are now fenced off and protected by the Archaeological Society, and, of course, people are no longer allowed to live in them. More information is available here.
A drive of just 23 kilometers (14 miles) will bring you from Matala to Gortyna (Γόρτυνα), where you can see remnants of a culture that dates back to Neolithic times. The city was most powerful, however, in the Roman period as the capital of Crete. In this compact archaeological site that straddles the main road, you can see the 6th-century Byzantine Church of Saint Titus, who was asked by Saint Paul to bring Christianity to Crete. Also at the site are remnants of the Gortyna legal code that laid out civil law for the city-state. It was written on the circular walls of what might have been a public building, and some of the text can still be seen. The code dealt with issues such as property rights, the ownership of slaves, and the rights of divorced or widowed women. You can also see the ruins of a theater, a palace, baths, and several temples here. Gortyna was destroyed in 828 by the Arabs or Saracens. It is 122 kilometers (76 miles) from Gavalochori. Find out more about Gortyna here.
