Agios Sillas lies 14 kilometres from Heraklion, at an elevation of 569 metres on the western foothills of Mount Juktas. Vineyards and olive groves shape the surrounding landscape. This gives the area a clear profile for choosing a place to stay: Agios Sillas combines its elevated setting and landscape with historical associations, while the wider destination of Heraklion offers additional, urban cultural attractions. When looking for hotels, you can first decide whether to focus on the village itself or on Heraklion’s cultural offerings.
History of the Village
A document from 1305, in which Áyios Síllas is first mentioned, describes two old churches: Agio Sila and Santa Maria. According to the account, both were destroyed in the earthquake of 1303 and subsequently rebuilt by Rogerius de Rogerios with the help of local residents. The dates mark two distinct events: the earthquake in 1303 and the document in 1305 that first mentions the village.
Another turning point belongs to the 17th century. The old village of Áyios Síllas is associated with the site of Perdikónero; in 1645, it was destroyed by the Turks shortly before the siege of Chandax began. Thus, the ecclesiastical tradition of the early 14th century and the destruction of the old village in the 17th century stand as distinct historical markers.
Places and Festival Tradition
The Hamamoutzi Cave is located inside the Church of Agios Georgios in Agios Sillas and is closely associated with the Cretan resistance. Another named destination is the old bridge at Chani tou Agiou Silla, which is considered worth visiting. These two features add different aspects to the village’s history: its connection with the resistance and an old structure.
Every year on 29 July, the Agios Sillas Cultural Association holds a festival. The date falls on the eve of the feast day of the patron saint, Agios Sila. If this date is important for your plans, check the programme for the relevant year.
Heraklion: Museums and Buildings
The wider destination of Heraklion offers its own, distinctly urban cultural focus. The Historical Museum of Crete displays two paintings by El Greco, from 1569 and 1570, the artist’s only works on Crete. The museum also has a dedicated collection of personal belongings and manuscripts of the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Paintings are thus displayed alongside personal artefacts and manuscripts.
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum offers a different perspective across time: its collection includes evidence of Cretan prehistory, protohistory and history, from the Neolithic period to Roman times. It therefore spans early periods through to antiquity, while the Historical Museum also holds collections of named artworks and writers’ materials.
Heraklion’s architectural heritage also offers a range of highlights. The Venetians built Koules to protect the pier and harbour. The Loggia is a Venetian building dating from the 16th century. The Basilica of San Marco now houses the municipal art gallery, where art and handicraft exhibitions are held. The exhibition programme may change. The Cathedral of Agios Minas is dedicated to Heraklion’s patron saint and is one of the largest churches in Greece. The Basilica of Agia Ekaterini was built in 1555 and served in the 16th and 17th centuries as the home of a renowned school for Renaissance painters and writers.
Discover more destinations: Sivas, Karteros, Kapetaniana, Chersonisos, Ano Viannos, Zaros, Finikia, Plora
For the wider travel overview: Heraklion.
