Matala

Rent a car Matala with Caravel Car hire Crete

Rent a car Matala with Caravel Car hire Crete.

At 66 kilometers south of Heraklion, the beach of Matala, on the southern coast of Crete, was the site of summer celebrations in honor of the Goddess of fertility from the Minoans and yet the ancient port of Phaistos. According to mythology, when Zeus kidnapped Europe from Asia, he brought the first Matala. Much later, namely the 70’s, the beach with the tourquoise waters of the Libyan Sea and the impressive caves that resemble houses, became a gathering place and escape from daily routine, thousands of young children from Greece and abroad (Flower Children). Today Matala beach is one of the most famous beaches in Greece.

Rent a car Matala with Caravel.

Take a look at our fleet and book your car here

 

About Matala

The artificial caves in the cliff of the Matala bay were created in the Neolithic Age. Matala was the port of Phaistos during the Minoan period. In the year 220 BC, Matala was occupied by the Gortynians, and during the Roman period, Matala became the port of Gortys. It has been suggested that the caves were once used as tombs, but it is more likely that they were used as living spaces, given their volume (corpses do not need that much room to walk around). One of the caves is called “Brutospeliana” because according to the legend it was frequented by the Roman general Brutus.

Matala was then a fishing village. In the 1960s, the caves were occupied by hippies who were later driven out by the church and the military junta. Matala is now a heavily overbuilt tourist destination relying on coach tours and summer visitors. There are many gift shops and bars. Matala’s hippie history relives during the 3 days Matala Beach Festival, every June (since 2011).

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Explore More...

Rent a car Matala with Caravel Car hire Crete

Matala

Rent a car Matala with Caravel Car hire Crete. At 66 kilometers south of Heraklion, the beach of Matala, on the southern coast of Crete,

Episkopi – Argiroupoli

Episkopi is a village 23kilometers west of Rethymno, it is a pretty traditional town of winding lanes and tiny houses overlooking the valley. The springs and

Chania Airport rent a car

Chania Airport rent a car

Chania Airport rent a car Chania Airport Daskalogiannis is an international airport. It is located near Souda Bay on the Akrotiri peninsula of the island

Gramvousa

Northwest of Kissamos is the beautifully wild and remote Gramvousa, whose main attraction is the stunning lagoon like sandy beach of Balos on Cape Tigani on

Rent a Car Heraklion with Caravel Car hire Crete

Heraklion City

Rent a Car Heraklion with Caravel Car hire Crete Heraklion is the largest city in Crete, located roughly in the centre of the north coast. Heraklion

Lassithi Plateau

Lassithi Plateau is one of the few areas in the Mediterranean with permanent inhabitants at an altitude over 800 metres. Lassithi plateau is 11 kilometres on

Rent a car Stalis with Caravel

Rent a Car Hersonissos

Rent a Car Hersonissos with Caravel Car Rentals Crete Hersonissos is 26 kilometres east of Heraklion, between Anissaras and Stalis. Hersonissos has developed due to

Archanes

While in Archanes, it is worth visiting the exquisite byzantine churches of the area, the Folklore Museum, the Museum of Cretan History and Tradition, the sculpture