WEATHER
Anogeia
Light Showers
11°C
Wind: 15 Southwest
Rethymno
16°C
Wind: 27 West
Spili
14°C
Wind: 06 West
Fragma Potamon
17°C
Wind: 13 West
courtesy of: www.meteo.gr
Garazo - Anogia
Length: 16 km
Estimated time: 5 hours
Suggested period: March - November
Difficulty: None
Aksos
The village is very fertile, with running waters (in the square of the village there is a faucet) and a wonderful atmosphere. It is built under the ancient city Aksos or Oaksos.
Oaksos was built at the glacis of the hill, at consecutive levels (terraces) with well-castled acropolis. Astali was the port of the city, which is a cove to today's village of Bali. As an important city of ancient Crete, it is already mentioned in plates found in Knossos. The excavations have brought to light rich findings that witness the constant inhabitance from the Geometric era (1000 B.C.) to the Roman era (325 A.C.). From 535 A.D. is mentioned as a centre of the episcopate. Two old basilicas of that period do not exist anymore. The churches of Agia Paraskevi, Agios Ioannis, Panagia, Agia Anna, Michael Archaggelos, Agios Georgios, Afendis Christos are rescued.
It used to be a large village during 1583. The census of 1671 shows the same findings. During the Revolution of 1866 a clinic used to be active in the area, which was the only clinic in Crete during that period, for the needs of the people on war.
Today, the village is developed and is inhabited by 600 residents.
There are 7 thousand years old byzantine churches in the village. You can admire the architecture of Agia Irini church, the wonderful wall paintings at Agios Ioannis church, the excellent temple at the church of Timios Stavros, the church of Agios Georgios, the ruined Michael Archaggelos church, as well as the churches of Agia Paraskevi and Afendis Christos.