An ancient place of worship with a history of use spanning many centuries and a pine forest surrounding Kato Symi appeal to different travel interests. Those interested in culture can focus on the sanctuary at Krya Vrysi and the tradition of a village chapel; the uphill hiking trail through the forest offers a scenic, active focus. This makes it possible to shape your stay around your own interest in history or nature.
Sanctuary and Cultural History
The sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite is located at Krya Vrysi and dates to the Neopalatial period, more specifically Middle Minoan III b. It is considered one of the most important ancient sanctuaries and is described as the only documented place of worship in Crete and Greece with such continuous use over many centuries. The period designation places the sanctuary in time; its long continuity highlights the duration of its use for worship. For travelers interested in ancient religious history, these are two distinct aspects of the same site.
Artifacts from the sanctuary of Symi are housed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. This provides a regional museum connection to the same history, in addition to the place of worship at Krya Vrysi. The two points of reference are distinct: the sanctuary as a site and the artifacts in the Heraklion collection. For those interested in culture, this connection extends the perspective beyond Kato Symi.
Pine Forest and Hiking Trail
According to the Heraklion Forestry Service, the pine forest around Kato Symi covers almost 10,000 stremmata, about 1,000 hectares, of protected land. There are comparatively few holm oaks in the forest. The area figure helps put the scale of the protected land into perspective; the information about holm oaks describes a different aspect, namely the composition of the forest. This gives you both a sense of the landscape’s scale and a specific indication of its tree cover.
A rural gravel road leads to the starting point of an uphill hiking trail through the pine forest. The route continues to the Omalos Plateau of Viannos. The climb is a practical consideration for planning your day: the trail offers a different focus from the sanctuary’s and chapel’s cultural and historical themes. Check the current condition of the trail before setting out on a hike.
The Village Chapel
The chapel of Panagia Galatoktismeni and Nistikoktismeni is in the village of Kato Symi. According to local tradition, it was built throughout the construction period by fasting craftsmen using clay and milk instead of water. The story links the building materials with the builders’ fasting and offers a distinct religious perspective on the chapel. Unlike the archaeological dating of the sanctuary, this is a local building tradition. The chapel celebrates the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on August 15. If you would like to include this feast day in your travel plans, check local information about the date of the celebration in advance.
You can choose from a range of interests: the sanctuary’s long history, the chapel’s tradition and feast day, or the uphill trail through the pine forest. The museum connection in Heraklion adds a regional perspective to the cultural experience. You can decide which of these aspects will shape your stay based on your own interests.
Discover more destinations: Petrokefalo, Lygaria, Tylissos, Karteros, Episkopi, Arvi, Agioi Deka, Anissaras.
For the broader travel overview: Heraklion.
