Matala beach
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Liveta Greitaityte
"This is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Crete and certainly the most famous beach of south Heraklion prefecture. It is famous for the carved caves in the rocks and the hippies of the ‘70s.
here is a beautiful sandy beach, 300m long, with fine gravel and crystal clear deep water. Moreover, the seabed is quite rocky in some places (especially in the central part of the bach) and waves are common, due to frequent west winds. Furthermore, there is a huge cave on the north part of the beach, from the top of which some people dive.
Around Matala, you will find many options for accommodation, entertainment, and eating. Also, a large part of the beach is covered by tamarisk trees, where you can find shade. In the evenings, the bars on the beach are full of many people, both locals, and foreigners. Especially in June, the internationally renowned Matala Festival takes place.
The most famous feature of the area is the many graves of the Roman and the Christian Era, carved in the soft white limestone thousands of years ago in the northwest walls of the bay. There are several underwater caves, as well. Many of them have rooms, stairs, beds, or windows, suggesting that they were once used as residences. The hippies of the '60s and '70s found their paradise in these caves when they visited and stayed in Matala.
⭐️ Amenities: sunbeds and umbrellas, snack bar, parking lot, cafes, taverns, bars, souvenir shop
💶 Paid admission to the Caves"
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