This time I wanted to take a look at some of the
mountain sites of Minoan and post-Minoan Crete: Lato,
Rhizenia, Lyttos, and in particular the mountain cave of
Kamares.

Kamares is located at 1,780m, under the summit of
Mount Mavri (1,981m) and visible from quite a
distance.

The climb started from the village of Kamares in about
700m and took about four hours through steep and
partially difficult territory, until I faced the huge
open gate of the cave.

The cave doesn't lead far into the mountain and all
the excavated objects now can be seen in the Heraklion
museum, but the view across the Mesara plain below
and to the Lybian Sea is breathtaking.

Somewhere below there is the Palace of Phaistos,
looking up to the cave, which was an important sanctuary
in Minoan times.