Heraklion Town TO Matala

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Heraklion Town

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Heraklion town as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Heraklion boasts the title of the largest urban entity in Crete and is also the administrative capital of the island. Heraklion has an immense historical and cultural heritage, as in close proximity to the city visitors can find the Palace of Knossos, which has served as the centre of Minoan civilisation. Throughout the city, you can also find a number of constructions dating back to the Venetian occupation such as Koules Fortress in the old port.

Heraklion is home to some world class monuments and cultural landmarks. Among the most outstanding man-made structures is the Heraklion Fortress that contains the 'old town'. Originally built by Arab merchants and later on reinforced by Venetians, the Fortress included seven bastions, of which only the Martinego bastion survives the passing of time. Moreover, visitors will be delighted to find one of the gates to the city, named Chanioporta, which is ornate with the winged lion of Saint Marc. Visitors can also pay pilgrimage to the grave of one of Greece's most important writers and Nobel recipient, N. Kazantzakis. The sight that marks his resting place also offers some mesmerising views of the city.

Throughout the city, one can spot statues and monuments commemorating prolific figures that have been important for Greece's course through history and have contributed to Crete's immense cultural heritage. Some of the names include renaissance painter El Greco, Poet Vicenzo Kornaros and Politician Eleftherios Venizelos.

Moreover, the Archaeological museum should be on the top of every visitor's list; a splendid space that boasts a massive collection of ancient artefacts from all over the island and covers more than 5,500 years of history. Special emphasis is given to the spoils of Minoan civilisation, which has been one of the first to spring in the Southern European cost and was almost entirely wiped out by a volcanic eruption and a subsequent tsunami. The museum is home to the most important collection of surviving Minoan antiquities in the world and awaits its visitors to explore the mysteries of this extinguished civilisation.

Nowadays, Heraklion represents a beacon of Greek modernization and has been subjected to an extensive urban sprawl, that gives it a truly unique character. Despite the expansion of concrete residential blocs and the immense traffic, a short walk through the bustling streets and alleys will travel you through thousand years of history and will reveal to you the hip side of Greece with its rich coffee culture and culinary delights that can be found in every corner.

Book your private transfer now. Enjoy a high-quality service at the lowest prices. Best price guaranteed. That’s why we are Crete’s favourite airport transfer company.

Matala

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Matala as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Matala is a village located 75 km south-west of Heraklion in the municipality of Phaistos.

Matala is nestled within the natural harbour of Messara Bay and adorned by sandy and pebble beaches. Legend has it that once god Zeus took the form of a flying bull to seduce princess Europa and according to the myth he brought her to the Matala beach. There he transformed into an eagle and flew with her to Gortys. Travellers chose the village of Matala as their base to explore eastern Crete as it is located conveniently close to the southern coast and away from the over-development of the northern side.

Matala will hold something for all kinds of travellers. The last few years it has become a favourite among visitors but still has managed to maintain its character as a place for peace and quiet. Matala started as a fishing village in the early 20th century and became infamous in the 60s and 70s for attracting visitors associated with the Hippie movement and lifestyle, which tradition lives on to the present day. The beach is paved with tamarisk trees and surrounded by awe-inspiring sandstone cliffs. Along the rock formations, one can notice some caves, embedded from the bottom to the top of the hill, thus creating a very unique and unusual landscape. The origin of the caves is unknown but one theory suggests that the caverns were constructed in order to be used as either Roman or early Christian tombs. More ancient ruins lie in the eastern side of the village and one can spot some underwater while snorkelling in Messara Bay.

Legend has it that Cape of Matala is the 'Cape of Nysos' referenced in Homer's Odyssey, which is the location where the ships of king Menelaus were wrecked. Visitors can find a decaying ancient temple in the South-East part of the settlement. Matala has been an important point for the Minoan period, as it operated as a port under the name of Phaistos. Around 220 B.C., under the Roman Empire, the port became known as the port of Gortys. Underwater ruins have been recovered by archaeologists dating back to that era and reveal the layout of the settlement. Lastly, in a nearby cave one can find the church of Virgin Mary, which was used as a catacomb for Christian burials at the times of persecution. The rich historical legacy has saved the region from gentrification and over-development and Matala is protected under the program NATURA 2000.

This place of south-west Crete will offer you numerous adventures and the relaxation you need on your holidays.

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