Lassithi Kalamafka

General information

Located 25 km south of Agios Nikolaos, at an altitude of 500 meters, Kalamafka is one of the most picturesque villages in Crete. With a landscape composed of bare, hanging rocks, pine trees, abundant streams, rugged gorges and a river that runs through the village, Kalamfka is a place of outstanding beauty that more than deserves its nickname as a “Chinese landscape” or the “Meteora of Lassithi.”

The village is believed to lie on the site of the ancient city of Larissa, which flourished from the Minoan till the Classical times. Opposite the village rises the massive 200-meter-high Kastello rock, where the ancient acropolis of Larissa used to stand. A chapel dedicated to Timios Stavros (the Holy Cross) can also be found inside a cave on Kastello rock. To reach it, one has to climb a flight of 248 stairs, while the view from the top, with the Libyan Sea and the Ierapetra plain on the one hand and the Dikti mountain range on the other, is absolutely breathtaking.

Kalamafka itself consists of old traditional houses and is ideal for hiking adventures, as the trail that leads to the imposing Havgas Gorge starts very close to the village. The route Kalamafka-Anatoli-Males, in particular, is very impressive, with its high rocks and steep cliffs, and is a great place for cycling. Another memorable natural sight is the springs in the area of Kefalovrisi, whence the Kalamfkianos River runs towards Kalamafka, lined by towering plane trees.

In the wider region, visitors can see the church of Agios Antonios, which has some nice wood carvings, as well as the post-Byzantine temples of Agios Georgios and Timios Stavros that house some remarkable frescoes.

Along the river banks lie taverns where travelers can cool down and savor delicious dishes while taking in the sublime views of the surrounding natural landscape.