Lendas: Beach Cove and Ancient Levina

Lendas appeals to travellers with two distinct points of interest: the Bay of Léntas is home to a beach complex, while the history of ancient Levina reaches back to Minoan times. This contrast makes the area interesting if you want to treat coast and culture as separate travel experiences and give them their own emphasis.

From Levina’s early traces to Roman times

The remains of the archaeological site of Levina date back to Minoan times. Ancient Levina flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. During Roman times, it was an important trading centre and also the seaport of Gortys, then the island’s capital. These roles give the area a history that is not limited to a single period: the earliest archaeological traces and its later importance as a trading and port city belong to different chapters.

Sanctuary, temple and basilica

For more than six centuries, the sanctuary of Asclepius in ancient Levina developed into an important religious and therapeutic centre for the city. The temple stood at the southwestern end of the flat area; its walls are preserved to a height of up to 3.40 metres. The treasury also had a specific form: it was a covered crypt with a secured entrance, where precious votive offerings were kept. There was also a thermal spring near the sanctuary. It was believed to have healing properties for blood diseases.

Another layer of history lies near the sanctuary: an early Christian, three-aisled basilica dating from the 5th century AD was discovered there. It was rebuilt in the 6th century. After the area was destroyed in the 7th century, the basilica was permanently abandoned. The temple, treasury and basilica thus represent different religious chapters in Levina’s history; their dates make the changes over several centuries clear.

Beach and activities nearby

Trafoulas Beach can be reached via the Trafoulas Gorge. The gorge is a few metres east of Loutra. This gives the nearby area another beach-related option, clearly distinct from the Bay of Léntas. If you are interested in this place, you can use the stated location of the gorge as a guide.

There are also organised take-off and landing sites for paragliders in the Lendas area. If paragliding is an option for your travel plans, check the local conditions before taking part.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to decide first what kind of trip you want: should the Bay of Léntas be the focus of your coastal getaway, would you like to centre your trip on the history of ancient Levina, or do you want to consider an activity nearby? These are different interests that you can weigh up based on the places and themes described. Then compare holiday apartments based on their specifically stated locations and check whether they suit your planned priorities. This way, your choice of accommodation reflects your travel plans without combining the different places into a single attraction.

If you are mainly interested in history, you can follow Levina’s development from its Minoan traces through its Hellenistic and Roman heyday to its later Christian buildings. If you prefer other priorities, the beach complex of the Bay of Léntas and nearby activities offer distinct themes to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations

Tylissos, Arkalochori, Elea, Kamilari, Klima, Astrakoi, Gournes, Plora

For the main travel overview: Heraklion.