The Agios Antonios Gorge begins in Ano Asites and stretches for two kilometres, combining dense vegetation with waterfalls. Visitors who want to explore nature, village history and crafts in one destination will find several distinct themes here: a gorge without a developed path, a Folklore Museum in a traditional building, a place of worship on the village square, a chapel at the gorge entrance, and local craft and food traditions. When planning, it is worth treating the nature route and cultural attractions as separate highlights.
The Gorge, Biodiversity and Natural Features
Dense vegetation and waterfalls characterise the Agios Antonios Gorge. The gorge is two kilometres long, but has no developed path. In narrow sections, hikers may need to step off the path to avoid the water. Trail conditions can vary; check them before hiking. The condition of the path is therefore as much a part of planning as the landscape itself.
The gorge is reported to be home to 80 plant species, 24 animal species and 16 bird species; each of these groups includes protected species. These figures complement the view of the waterfalls with an indication of the natural area's biodiversity. In Kouvdi stands a centuries-old oak tree, considered a natural attraction worth seeing. The Nichteridospilo Cave is also near the Agios Antonios Gorge. It is 100 metres deep, serves as a refuge for bats and is not accessible.
Village History and Crafts
The chapel of Agios Antonios stands at the entrance to the Agios Antonios Gorge, which begins in Ano Asites. The Church of St. Ioannis stands on the old village square in Ano Asites. According to its inscription, it was built in 1862. The Folklore Museum of Ano Asites has been operating since 1995. It is housed in a traditional building constructed in 1880, representing a traditional Cretan home.
The Ancient Rizinia Cemetery lies two kilometres from Ano Asites. On the edge of the cemetery stand two well-preserved vaulted buildings from Roman times, known as the Siderospilies (“Iron Caves”). The church, museum and Roman buildings offer different points of historical reference without being conflated into a single stop or period.
In Ano Asites, visitors can watch bell makers and basket weavers at work, talk to the craftspeople and buy their products. Livestock farming has a long tradition in the village. Meat, sausages, apaki, anthotyro, graviera, kefalotyri, mizithra and yoghurt are produced in the area. Crafts and food production are thus two tangible aspects of local village life.
Culture in the Wider Heraklion Destination
Museums and Venetian buildings form a distinct cultural focus in the wider Heraklion destination. The Historical Museum of Crete displays two paintings by El Greco, from 1569 and 1570, the artist’s only works in Crete. It also has a dedicated collection of personal belongings and manuscripts belonging to the Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum displays representative artefacts from Cretan prehistory and history, from the Neolithic period to Roman times. Koules was built by the Venetians to protect the pier and harbour; the Loggia is a 16th-century Venetian building. The Basilica of San Marco now houses the municipal art gallery.
Discover more destinations: Elea, Mochos, Kroussonas, Kalo Chorio, Agios Myron, Galatas, Kalamaki, Timbakion
For the wider travel overview: Heraklion.
