Southwest from Matala is an area where other remarkable beaches are located (Vathi, Agiofaraggo), which all have a common trait their wild beauty and crystal clear, blue waters. Martsalo area is another inaccessible bay that can be reached only by foot thgrough Martsalo Gorge.

This is where Apostle Paul has disembarked on his journey to Rome and has preached Christianism for the first time. At the middle of a gorge one can see a church of Saint Mary, nested in a cave, dating from the first Christian years. It is believed that this church was also a catacomb, where Christians were hiding to escape the persecutions of the various occupiers of Crete. Around the church, one can find monk cells carved into the stone and traces of centuries - old buildings.

To get here you should follow the dirt road that starts from Odigitria Monastery and heads to Lithino Cape (follow the dirt road that turn right after the monastery, while the left heads for Agiofarago). After several kilometers you will see a sign to Martsalo. If you follow the poor dirt track, you will find yourself at the beginning of Martsalo Gorge.

You should leave your car near the entrance to the gorge and continue walking southwards for about 2km.The route through the gorge is not particularly difficult.

The gorge, like the rest gorges of the region (e.g. Agiofarago) was and still is a hermitage of the Odigitria Monastery. For this reason, it is considered a site of great religious importance. In the gorge you will see many remnants of the cells, where the monks lived.

This gorge is remarkable because of its old troglodytic church (a mass is celebrated every 15th of August). Thanks to the montains all around (which protect the place from the north), and to its south orientation, Martsalo also shelters a thicket of palm trees of the same species than those of Preveli and Vaï. This makes it a quite exceptional place which, from the top of the cliff, somehow looks like an oasis.

More from the area...

• Beaches
• Villages
• Gorges
• Sites
• Other

Trafoulas Beach in Lentas, South Central Crete

Korakas Beach by Rethimno, south Crete

Agios Nikitas Beach by Tsoutsouros - Asterousia, South Crete

Aspes Beach by Asterousia, South Crete

Kali Limenes beach and area in south Crete

Tsoutsouros Beach, South Heraklion

Dyskos Beach, Lendas, South Central Crete

Agios Georgios beach - Agia Galini Rethimno

Paximadia Beach, South Crete, Beaches on Crete

Kalamaki Beach, South Crete - Mesara. Beaches on Crete

Lakkes Beach by Skaloti, Rethimno

Ostria Beach by Lendas, South Central Crete

Katsouni Agalianos beach Rethimno, South Central Crete

Polirizos Beach by Rethimno, south Crete

Agios Ioannis Beach and Village in South Crete

Moires or Mires, south Crete. Messara

Old Hersonisos in Heraklion, Central Crete

Adelianos Kambos, Rethimno, Central Crete

Keratokambos village by South Crete, Heraklion

The Municipality of Heraklion or Iraklion, Crete

Perama in Geropotamos Rethimno, Central Crete

Tsoutsouros in Heraklion, South Central Crete

Kokkinos Pirgos coastal village by South Crete - Mesara

Gouves in Heraklion, Central Crete

Malia in Heraklion, Central Crete

Chersonisos in Heraklion, Central Crete

Bali Village and Beach, Rethimno, Central Crete

Archanes in Heraklion, Central Crete

Kali Limenes Village in South Crete, Heraklion

Tris Ekklisies Village in South Crete, Heraklion

Kotsifou Gorge in Plakias, south Crete

Agiofarago in south Crete Matala - Lendas area

Agios Antonios gorge by Asites

Aposelemis gorge in Heraklion Crete

Petres Gorge in Rethimno

Kissano Gorge in Rethimno, Central Crete

Ambelos and Rosa Gorge in Gonies

Rouvas Gorge or Agios Nikolaos Gorge, Zaros

Martsalo Gorge, Matala

Selinari gorge in Heraklion Crete

Tripiti gorge in Lentas south Crete. Lendas area

Karteros or Astrakiano gorge in Heraklion Crete

Agios Fanourios gorge in Venerato

Keratokambos or Portela Gorge in south Crete Heraklion

Agios Vasilios gorge in Rethimno

The Arkalochori Cave

Labyrinth: Knossos and History

Gortys – A City for the Ages

The Phaistos Disc, archaeological site in Crete

Aqueduct Morozini in Archanes

Agia Triada archaeological site in Crete

Potters Neighbourhood in Gouves, archaeological site

The Rimondi Fountain, Rethimno

STEGA: The Archaeology of Houses and Households in Ancient Crete

Pre-historic settlement of Kastelli Heraklion

Malia minoan Palace archaeological site in Central Crete

Anemospilia archaeological site in Archanes

Knossos: The Palace

The Hermitages of Agios Efthimios and of Agios Methodios in Zaros - Nivritos

Tylisos or Tylissos archaeological site on Crete, Heraklion

Lighthouse in Cavo Sidero, Sitia

The Cedar Forest in Chrissi Island

Tenda in Palekastro, East Crete

Giouchtas - Yiouchtas hill in Archanes Heraklion

Liondaria, or Lion Square in Heraklion City, Crete

Votomos lake in Zaros, Central Crete

Argiroupolis waterfalls in Rethymno Crete

Drapano Cape in Apokoronas Chania, West Crete

Mount Kedros - Rethimno

The reservoir (small lake) of Livada, Thrapsano Heraklion

Lighthouse in Elafonisi, Chania

Lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos, East Crete Lasithi

Visit the area of Mirtos: Chrissi and Sarakina

25 August St in Heraklion City, Crete

Tower of Alidakis - Emprosneros Chania