The small mountain village Anatoli is 30-minutes’ drive, 17 km, from the coastal town of Ierapetra in the south coast of Crete. To the Port of Agios Nikolaos 30 Km , about 45 minutes’ drive. It is an ancient, historical, traditional village with 666 habitants, situated at an altitude of 600 m with 2 Tavernas and 2 coffee shops. Due to the government assistance programs several old farmhouses are restored. I hope the beautiful old Fountain Square will also been restored soon. Anatoli is located 9.8 km south of the wildlife refuge “Gianna Koryfi” it is a protected area for flora and fauna since 2001. This area is bordered from the Lassithi Plateau. From Anatoli to the "Selekano Forest" only 10 minutes’ drive, 13.8 Km. On the way you will pass the picturesque mountain villages Males and Christos.
The gorge of Selakano and the routes to the peaks Afentis and Lazaros of Dikti are also an adventure. Anatoli is a good location to discover these protected areas of the South East of Crete. The village of the rising sun, as its name declares. The golden rays illuminate Anatoli, the hanging rocks, the Holy Cross church, Drygies and Karkasa. Due to altitude (600 meters above sea level), the village offers the most beautiful sunrises. Anatoli nurtured important men of letters, such as Antonios Damilas, scribe and printer, Neilos Damilas, scholarlypriest-monk in the Karkasia Monastery, Dimitrios Damilas, brother of Antonios, scribe and printer in Milan, who published the “Greek Grammar” in 1476, Anthimos Donos,and Ioannis Olokalos, whose notary documents have been recently published. Anatoli was during the Venetian occupation, with his school, an important spiritual center.
The place made great resistance against Turkish rule. Known resistance fighters were Lakerdas Emmanuel, Chief of Staff of Ierapetra, Iakovos Mahairas, Athanasios Barberakis and Georgios Bekiaris. That is why in Anatoli and around are many church monuments and monasteries with beautiful Byzantine icons.
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Tips for excursions Anatoli
