n the middle of the fertile and verdant plain of Mirabello, there is one of the most handsome and important towns of the island. Today Neapoli is an attractive commercial centre. Milatos lies 11Km to the north of Neapoli.
Minoan Milatos stood between the modern village and the fine sandy beach, which is 1 Km away. In the myths Milatos was a boy who, like Romulus and Remus, was brought up in the forest by a she-wolf. When he grew up, he killed the tyrant of the city and escaped to Asia Minor, where he was said to have founded the famous city of Miletus. Near the village, in a deep gorge, is the historic Milatos cave. It has eight entrances spaced out over 40 meters of the cliff-face and on three different levels, and it has a total area of 2,100 square meters.

		he peaks of a range surround the Lasithi plateau, which occupies an area of 2,500 hectares. Thanks to the geological composition of the ground, the plateau retains the rainfall and some 10,000 windmills raise the water from wells to irrigate the plain. Apart from being picturesque, they also make the plain among the most fertile parts of Crete. Archaeological investigation has shown that the Lasithi plateau was occupied as early as Neolithic times (Trapeza Cave, Diktaean Cave).
Settlements have been found at Karfi and Plati, In historical times, the area was part of the territory of the city-state of Lyttos. Under Byzantium, there was a large town at Avgoustis. In 1263, however, the Venetians drove out all the inhabitants of the plateau, which had become a centre of resistance to their rule.

t an altitude of 870 m. stands Kroustalenias Monastery. This foundation, with its wonderful view, stands nestling against a rock covered with ancient maples and oaks. The monastery was founded around 1540 and is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin. It takes its name, which means "of crystal", from an icon of Our Lady, which was found here, painted on crystal.
The Diktaean Cave stands at an altitude of 1,025 meters on the northern slopes of Mountain Dikti. This, according to the myths, was the place where Zeus, the father of gods and men, was born. Wonder and awe overcome one at the sight of the enormous entrance to the cave, crowned by trees and bushes and surrounded by wild flowers whose aroma fills the air. As one begins the descent into the cave, the atmosphere changes and becomes more solemn and suggestive, redolent of religious significance.
Huge stalactites hang from the ceiling, like giants whose backs have for countless centuries been supporting the roof of the cave. In this magnificent cave, Rhea took refuge and, with the help of her mother Gea, gave birth to Zeus, the divine infant.

		he Diktaean Cave consists of two parts. The first or northerly part, the antechamber, is flat and has a total length 42 m., a width of 19 m. and a height of 6.5 m. Here an altar had been built and around it were tables for offerings and statuettes in stances of devotion. The second part, which runs from north to south, is the main cave and slopes downward. Its total length is 85 m., its width is 38 m. and its height its between 5 and 14 m. At the back on the left is a further small chamber , and tradition has it that a hidden recess in it is where Zeus was born. On the right is the lake, whose dimensions are 16 x 8.5 meters.
Returning to the tourist pavilion, you will have the opportunity, while you are taking a refreshment, to think back over what you have just seen and contemplate the myths connected with this unique place.

Photos and text taken from "Crete - today and yesterday" and "Crete - A tour of all the towns and villages" (Toubis Editions)

Previous highlight The town of Ayios Nikolaos	Next highlight Siteia Bay