Overview

West from the village of Agia Varvara, the geographical center of Crete, there is a road that leads to the south flanks of Mount Ida. This is a lovely drive on an empty and relatively good road. Gergeri, Zaros, Moni Vrondisiou, Moni Valsamonerou, the Kamares Cave are just some of the wonderful sites you will be able to discover during this trip.

The village of Agia Varvara stands amid olive groves and beautiful orchards. It is named after the 13th century church of Agia Varvara in the center of the village. There is a chapel dedicated to Prophet Elijah, which sits atop a large rock known as the navel of Crete or the ";Omphalos";.

Approximately 17 km west of Agia Varvara you will meet Gergeri, an attractive village, famous since antiquity for its spring waters. At the edge of the village, on the road to Kamares, there is a bottling plant, where the mineral water of Gergeri is bottled and distributed all over Crete. You can buy traditional delicacies and garden products from the agricultural cooperative, which was founded by the local women of Gergeri. If you take one of the paths, beyond the hills of Gergeri, you will soon discover the oldest oak forest of Crete: The forest of Rouvas, now an officially protected area.

After 2 km west from the village of Gergeri you will arrive at the beautiful artificial lake Votamos, complete with swans and little wooden bridges. Here is the source of the mineral water, which is bottled in Gergeri. The idyllic lake Votamos is an ideal place for relaxation. Just behind the lake tourist pavilion there is a deep gorge, which offers spectacular views of Psiloritis Range.

West of Zaros is the ancient monastery of Moni Agiou Nikolaou (14th century) with its marvelous frescoes. About 3 km west of Moni Agiou Nikolaou is the 14th century Moni Vrondisiou. The monastery was burned by the Turks in 1821 for its revolutionary activities, however, its beautiful gate and 15th century Venetian fountain are still in a good condition. Visitors can admire the wonderful and unique 14th century frescoes in the monastery';s double-aisled church, as well as a collection of icons taken from the church of Agios Fanourios, which is all that survives from the nearby Monastery Valsamonero. Moni Vrondisiou has given up six wonderful panels by Damaskinos to the icon gallery of Agia Ekaterini in Heraklion, after a premonition of its sacking. They were created during the monastery';s golden age, when it was the most important intellectual center of the region. 

After Moni Valsamonerou the road continues to the village Kamares, where a path (about 4 hours walk) leads to the Kamares Cave. Kamares (1,525m) was an important cave sanctuary, where it is believed that the Minoans worshipped Eileithyia, goddess of fertility and childbirth. Italian Archeologists discovered 1893 fine pottery samples, known as Kamares ware. Pilgrims probably brought them from the palace of Phaistos. Near Kamares there is a path up to the summit of Mount Ida (6 hours), which is rather difficult for inexperienced walkers.