Gorge of Agios Antonios of Patsos

Gorge of Agios Antonios of Patsos

One of the most beautiful gorges of the Rethimno prefecture, the Patsos gorge or the gorge of Agios Antonios of Patsos, is about 3 kilometers from the Patsos settlement of the Amari municipality.

It is about 5 kilometers long and requires about 1 hour to pass it through. Its exit is near the Potamoi dam.

The gorge is easy and can be passed during the whole year. It is a well-developed gorge as it has picnic facilities, a bird observatory and facilities for its easy passing.

It is very green and its river (ends to the Potamoi dam) has water during the whole year. There are huge plane trees and several interesting plant species (Solenopsis Minuta, Verbascum Arcturus).

The small church of Agios Antonios is in the gorge and, particularly, into a cavern. In the ancient times, it was the worship place of Kranaios Hermes, as the inscription there states. The area has been excavated and the findings are kept in the Museum of Oxford.

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