Going to Fodele
At the 25th km of
Heraklion
-
Rethymno highway we
meet the junction for Fodele, having on our left, two of the three beaches of
the area that are separated by the mouth of Pandomandri's river. The river flows
by the road and after a 3 km drive through orange trees it reaches the village.
Fodele is a mountainous area at an altitude of 60m above sea level. Both the old
core of the settlement at the western slope of the small valley and the newer
at the banks of the small river compose a very interesting structured environment,
which in combination with the rich vegetation and the orange groves create a unique
landscape for central Crete.
Fodele Village
The village comprises an oasis of freshness, especially for the hot
days of summer. The village's square offers itself for relaxation and gives the
chance to visitors to enjoy their coffee or lunch next to the river underneath
the perennial plane trees. A bit further down the square, at Archontico settlement
there is Dominico Theotocopoulos Museum of Replicas, which is housed at the alleged
birth-place of the great painter. At the same settlement there is the small Byzantine
church of Panagia (Virgin Mary) (The presentation of the Virgin Mary), which is
said to be the motive of Greco to get involved with hagiography. This church is
built on the ruins of an older three-sectioned Byzantine church with wonderful
frescos and sculptures.
Except for the developed tourist beach and the huge hotel complex,
in Fodele settlement there have also developed remarkable activities in handicraft
sector and pop art trade together with the rendering of services of taverns and
restaurants. Significant is also the trade of local products, mainly oranges.
An area of outstanding natural beauty is the surroundings of Dominico
Theotocopoulos' house and the Byzantine church in Loumbinies. At a similar area
there is Galini area where there is a creek bearing waters until July, verdant
with plane trees, which empties into a natural port of unique beauty - an area
with rare aesthetics value and many antiquities that could be declared as a national
park.
