FODELE, Village, GAZI

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.