Ascent to the Sacred peak of “Strouboulas”

Strouboulas is the first peak which you can admire looking westwards from the city of Heraklion.

The height of the peak is 798 meters above the sea level, which is a small height relative to the surrounding mountains and the mountain range of Psiloritis. To get there you should follow the Ammoudara-Gazi route and then the signs to Tylissos. Then an ascent of 45 minutes is required to reach the summit.

To climb the mountain, you have to head to the stunning Strouboulas plateau, which during the winter period forms a small lake on its edge. To get to the top, you have to start walking next to the chapel of Agios Georgios where a dirt road begins and then climb through a very well marked trail.

Initially, you will encounter sparse vegetation but during the ascent, the hollies alternate with bushes. Reaching the top you will see the historic chapel of the “Timios Stavros” (Holy Cross), whose history is great, as it existed from the Venetian occupation at that point, while during the German occupation, the Germans built there a gun nest to control the whole of Heraklion. But when they lost the war, they blew up all their war facilities along with the ancient chapel from its foundations.

After the war the inhabitants of the village of Tylissos carried materials and by working themselves, they rebuilt the temple. Since then it has been an important pilgrimage to the whole region, and the day of its celebration a crowd goes up to Strouboulas’ sanctuary spending the night there.

From the top, despite the small height of the mountain, the visitor enjoys a stunning view in every direction of the island.

You can return from the same path. A few meters after the temple you will come across another path heading downhill and north. If you follow it in half an hour you will reach the base of the mountain in the village of Doksa.

The homonymous Cave with its rich decoration will reward you.

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