The little fishing village of Lendas lies on the south coast of Crete,
at the foot of a mountain range. Lentas sits on a promontory, in the shape
of a crouching lion, which runs down to a 300 metres long white strip of
fine shingle, that merges into the azure blue of the Libyan Sea. According
to mythology, one of the lions which pulled the goddess Rhea’s chariot
was turned into stone here, thus giving the area its name.
Until very recently the village had no electricity and was reached
only by a tiny unpaved road. Today, however, Lendas is an ideal holiday
resort, which attracts many visitors drawn by the natural beauty of the
spot and its disorders of the stomach and the blood. There are lots of
tavernas on the beach, but the village retains its quiet simple character.
This place is ideal for visitors who
want a peaceful and relaxing seaside holiday. In ancient times, Lendas
was probably the port of the old Roman capital of Crete, which was Gortys
and which is also well worth a visit. There are old Roman remains to be
seen if you are walking in the area of Lendas, such as the two ancient
pillars of the Temple of Asklepios. Yet further back in history, the part
of Lendas played an important role as part of the main trading route between
the Egyptians and the Minoans.
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