Preveli

Preveli beach and lagoon sometimes known locally as "Palm Beach", is located below the monastery, at the mouth of the Kourtaliotiko gorge.

Preveli is located about 35km south of Rethymno and 10km east of Plakias. Beach of Preveli, also known as Lake Preveli, is located at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotikos Gorge, where the Great River (Megas Potamos) is flowing.

It is certainly the most famous beach in southern Crete, accepting thousands of visitors every summer. During the 60s and 70s, it was a favorite destination for hippies. On the banks of the Grand River there is a large colony of Theophrastus palm trees, which give the region a sense of an African landscape. The river, forming a large lake, 1.5km long, before emptying into the sea, has water all year round. You can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other trees, and start ascending in the beautiful canyon. You can swim in the cold ponds formed in the gorge. A big fire in 2010 burnt almost everything of this paradise, but paradoxically the palmgrove recovered most of its damage.

At the exit of the river, a sandy beach with pebbles and sand is formed, with sea water being very cool due to the river. In the eastern part of the beach, there is a beautiful rock reminding of a mast. It is poorly organized because the area is protected, without any umbrellas, but with a few restaurants and snack bars nearby. Moreover, you could rent pedal boats for a ride in the river.

Access

You have two basic options for accessing Preveli, from the west or east. The first option is to drive from Plakias to the Monastery Preveli, following the relevant signs. 1.5km after the Kato Monastery of Preveli, you will stop at a large parking lot, where a path that descends to the beach starts. The parking is located near towering vertical cliffs, west of the beach, where you can take some fantastic photographs. To reach the beach walk the footpath that takes about 15-20 minutes. However, return is tedious as the ascent is rather steep.

To avoid the difficult climb, you can alternatively drive in the dirt road leading to nearby Drimiskiano Amoudi (see related article for instructions) and walk the short path that leads to Preveli in just 5 minutes. However, you won’t have the chance to see the spectacular view from the tall cliffs on the west side.

Lastly, there are small boats running to Preveli from Agia Galini and Plakias.

The Monastery

Preveli gets its name after the nearby historic monastery of Preveli. It is a men-only monastery, founded in the 16th or 17th century and is dedicated to St. John the Theologian.

There are two monasteries, the old and the new, called Piso and Kato Monastery respectively. The old is abandoned and you will meet that a few meters south of the old stone bridge, on the road to Preveli.

The new monastery of Preveli, Piso Moni, is the most important monastery in the region. From the abundant offerings of the pilgrims, a huge real estate fortune has been gathered. The monastery has twenty cells, a hostel, a library and a museum where vestments, sacred vessels and important religious relics are exhibited. In the outdoor fountain you'll see a carved inscription, dating back in 1701. Inside the church there is a silver chandelier, high a valuable golden Holy Cross with precious stones that is believed to be miraculous. There's also an elaborate pontifical throne and a pulpit. The monastery played an important role in the fight against the Turks and during the German occupation, because it gave refuge to several Greek foreign fighters and soldiers who took part in the Battle of Crete. The view from the monastery is unique, since it located on a very high point overlooking the vast Libyan Sea.