LOCATION

 MILATOS VILLAGE 

The picturesque, traditional village of MILATOS is located on the north coast of eastern Crete, in a valley of olive trees.

It consists of two parts:the Upper Milatos, a small traditional village with narrow streets and old, stone built  and renovated houses, representative of the local architecture and Milatos Beach, built by the sea, with small family hotels, charming beach houses and homely taverns, famous for their fresh fish and traditional cuisine.
Milatos is located next to Malia and Sissi (two of the busiest resorts of Crete) and close (44 km) from the largest city on the island, Heraklion and 39 km from the international airport. It is 26 km from the capital of the prefecture, Agios Nikolaos and next to Elounda which, with its luxurious hotels, is a primary destination of all the famous visitors of Crete.

The village is in the "right distance" from the famous touristic resorts in the area. In that way you can easily visit them and at the same time you can also enjoy the peace and beauty of the sea and the tranquility of nature.

There is a daily bus service to the cities of the region, while the village is only 8 km away from the newly built highway E75. Milatos is the ideal base to explore the island, as there are beautiful coastal and mountain routes, important archaeological sites, traditional villages and cities, touristic resorts, nightlife and beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters in the region.

(what to see & do:HERE)

MILATOS in History

Milatos village is built near the site of Ancient Milatos, which was destroyed in the 3rd century BC by its adversary Lytto. Milatos is mentioned by Homer among the seven cities that sent troops to Troy (Iliad B6470). Local mythology states that Milatos was a boy, who was raised in a forest in the area by a female wolf. When he grew up, he killed the tyrant of the city and escaped to the shores of Asia Minor. There he founded the famous colony of Militos in 1500 BC. Militos was the most important Ionian city and is the birthplace of the greatest philosophers (Thalis, Hippodamus, Anaksimandros).

Minoan art objects, as well as Mycenaean tombs and Mycenaean rhythm vessels, have been discovered in the region, indicating a prehistoric past. All those valuable objects are now kept in Iraklion and Agios Nikolaos argeological museums.

The ancient city seems to have been located around ‘Kastelos Hill’ that is overlooking the plain and the sea. In the photo, in the foreground you can see the Hill that had been fortified and in the background Milatos village and Milatos Beach village.

In modern times, the village is well known for its Historic Cave. Milatos Cave is located 3km northeast of the village, at an altitude of 155m, overlooking a plain with olive trees and Aegean Sea. In 1823, during Turkish occupation of Greece, a tragedy took place: as the area was devastated and ravaged by the troops, the civilian population of the area hid inside the cave. But their secret was betrayed and all were slaughtered or sold as slaves.

Inside the cave is built a small picturesque chapel dedicated to the memory of the victims. Many people visit the cave, not only because of its historical significance, but also to enjoy the magnificent nature and panoramic views.

During the last decades, Milatos village hosts an important fishing port and has been developed touristically, as it is located near the famous touristic resorts of the area and offers a unique combination of sea and mountain holiday, tradition and cosy holiday homes.