Kapetaniana: Panoramic Views and Traditions in the Asterousia Mountains

Kapetaniana lies at an altitude of about 750 metres on the southern slopes of the Asterousia Mountains. Its amphitheatrical setting offers panoramic views of the Libyan Sea, the Asterousia Mountains and the summit of Kofinas.

Church and Feast Days

At Metzolati, there is a small church dedicated to the Holy Cross. It stands on the ruins of an ancient peak sanctuary; the church’s feast day is 14 September. A Christian ceremony with pagan elements is still held at the Church of the Holy Cross. Another annual date is 15 August: in Kapetaniana, the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated with a traditional Cretan panigyri. The September date marks the church’s feast day, while the August date is the annual celebration. This places two distinct cultural points of interest on the calendar.

Hiking and Via Ferrata in the Asterousia Mountains

There are more than 60 hiking trails in the wider Asterousia Mountains area. These include 14 specially designed routes connecting mountain and lowland sections. The 14 routes form part of the larger trail network. They stand out from the total number of trails in the region because they connect different landscape areas.

Seven via ferrata routes run along a steep slope in the heart of the Asterousia Mountains. They are equipped with ropes, cables and iron rungs. Their design, as described, sets them apart from the extensive hiking trail network: these are a group of routes on one slope, while the hiking trails cover mountain and lowland sections. Both figures refer to the wider mountain area, not exclusively to the village.

Climbing and Horse Riding

For climbing in the wider Asterousia Mountains region, the period from spring to autumn is recommended. Climbing should be avoided during the breeding season of birds of prey that nest on the rocks, from December to February. The seasonal recommendation and restriction go together, providing a specific timeframe for this activity.

The climbing areas of Kapetaniana and Agiofarago have a combined total of twelve crags and 220 routes of varying difficulty. This total applies to both areas together. Kapetaniana has suitable starting points for horse-riding trips. So alongside activities in the wider mountain area, there are also two local points of interest: the views and horse-riding trips, while the climbing figures cover Kapetaniana and Agiofarago together.

For planning your trip, it is helpful to keep the geographical scale in mind: the church, feast days, views and horse-riding trips are associated with Kapetaniana. The hiking network and via ferrata routes are in the wider Asterousia area; the climbing crags and routes mentioned span Kapetaniana and Agiofarago. When looking for a hotel in Kapetaniana, you can weigh up whether the village itself, its cultural events or the regional opportunities for hiking and climbing will be the deciding factor for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Agios Myron, Kato Kalesia, Astrakoi, Malia, Karteros, Kokkinos Pirgos, Kato Loutraki, Kroussonas

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