One of the most interesting caves on Crete is in the village
of Zoniana, just 43 km from Heraklion and 52 km from Rethymnon. The quaint
village of Zoniana, which has a long and intriguing history, is situated 630
meters up on Psiloritis Mountain (Mount Idi) in the Mylopotamos region of the
Rethymnon Prefecture. Zoniana is the village's modern name - prior to 1920 it
was called Zeus' Pit, possibly named after the God Zeus. The main
occupation of the residents is cattle breeding
As you drive up the mountain road into Zoniana, which is
located just a short distance from the renowned village of Anogeia, you will see
the sign for the famous Sfentoni Cave, or Sfentoni's Hole, one of the
island's most beautiful caves, extensively adorned with stalactites and
stalagmites.
Following the signs will bring you to the parking lot which
affords a panoramic view of the area. In the parking lot is a kiosk where you
can purchase tickets to the cave at 4 Euros each (2004).
As you are not allowed to enter the cave on your own, the
ticket price includes the services of a well-trained guide, who is responsible
for both your personal safety and the protection of the cave. The guides, all of
whom are residents of the village who grew up playing children's games in and
around the cave's galleries before it was open to visitors, are well versed in
explaining all about the deep, dark secrets of this fascinating attraction.
There is a paved path leading from the kiosk to the mouth of
the cave, which originally was only about a meter wide. Since the cave has
become such a popular site, the entrance was opened up and adapted to provide a
comfortable and safe access for the great number of visitors.
Upon entering the interior, you will walk, together with the
guide, on metal corridors with ropes on each side, which allow for an additional
feeling of security, especially while walking on sloping paths.
The impressive 3000-square-meter cave allows a 270-meter
walk, providing visitors with breathtaking sights of how Mother Nature patiently
"creates" an aesthetic spectacle by using mineral-rich water drops.
Huge columns create puzzle-like spaces. Innumerable
stalactites and stalagmites of various shape and colour adorn the halls of the
cave, while hollowed-out water basins and "cave pearls" can be found throughout
the cavern, where the sparkle of microscopic calcium crystals is especially
impressive.
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