Epano Vatheia

Epano Vatheia is a village in Heraklion Prefecture.

Understand
Of historical interest is the old church of Saint Antony, with remains of murals. The church is reported in notarial contracts in 1271 as well as in a document dating to 1394. In 1583, it is reported to have numbered 125 residents. In the Ottoman inventory 1671 it is recorded as having fifteen families, while in the Egyptian inventory of 1834 it has 10 Christian and 3 Muslim ("Cretan Turks") families. On the contrary, in the inventory of 1881 only 2 Christians and 225 Muslims were reported. By 1900, it numbered only 10 residents, and none in 1920. By 1928 it had been repopulated, with 258 people living there.

Climate
Heraklion has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with clear skies. Dry hot days are often relieved by a system of seasonal breezes. Winters are mild with relatively little rain and rare frosts. .

Get in
Located in the middle of the island, all roads lead to Heraklion.

By plane
There are daily flights from Athens airport and other major Greek cities by Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines. During summer, Sky Express flies to several Aegean islands.

From April till early November charter airlines fly directly to Heraklion from many European airports.

By bus
Heraklion is connected with the rest of Crete by regular bus lines operated by two KTEL companies,. The coaches are modern, comfortable and air-conditioned. Fare is reasonable. connections can be made by KTEL Buses in Kokkini Hani to/from both Agios Nikolaos and the island capital Heraklion

There are two bus stations in Heraklion:

By boat
There are ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion, Minoan Lines, Anek Lines  and Superfast Ferries  - and also there are  normal ferries from Thessaloniki and Dodecanese - G.A. Ferries  ,  and Highspeed Catamarans and normal ferries from Cyclades to Heraklion. G.A. Ferries, Sea Jets  , Santorini Maritime  and Hellenic Seaways. The frequency is reduced in the winter.

By car
The only solution is to arrive to one of the big Ports of Crete (Heraklion, Chania, Sitia or Rethymnon). Then you have to hire a car, if you have not done it yet.

By ferry
There are Highspeed Catamaran and normal ferries from/to Heraklion, Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion, Minoan Lines , Anek Lines  and Superfast Ferries  - and also from Thessaloniki, Cyclades and Dodecanese to Heraklion. Sea Jets Santorini Maritime  and Hellenic Seaways. The frequency is reduced in the winter. Also every summer there is One Day Cruise from Heraklion to Santorini by cruise boat or highspeed catamarans

Do

 * Heraklion Summer Arts Festival - from June to September
 * Water fun, at the nearby Water City and Aqua Plus water parks.

Drink

 * Raki, also known as Tsikoudia, is the trademark of Cretan day and night life, a strong clear drink similar to Grappa in Italy or Orujo in Spain. It is made out of the 'must' of grape skins and twigs after the local production of the white wine. It doesn't taste like aniseed, as opposed to the Turkish raki. Most raki is 80 proof, about the strength of most vodkas, but some are much stronger. It's often served in small glasses after dinner with a plate of fruit or other dessert.
 * Cretan Wine: Try the distinctive Cretan wine, produced in the island for at least 4000 years. Labels: Sitia, Peza Union. The Cretans themselves drink so called 'open' wine, straight out of the barrel, like fresh white wine, and the sometimes very old dark rusty red wine, a bit like port. Typical Cretan wine varieties are Marouvas and Kotsifali (both red wines).

Go next

 * Faistos
 * Matala
 * Agios Nikolaos
 * Rethymno
 * Anogia
 * Chania
 * Samaria Gorge
 * Spinalonga