Perama Crete
Perama located about 25km east of Rethymno, with a population of
around 1,650 people, Perama is one of the most important
provincial centres of the prefecture. It is a significant
commercial centre but, in recent years, has developed into a
considerable tourist centre as well. Its port is the Port of
Panormos.
From Perama it is possible to visit the Caves of Melidoni and
Gerospilios or Gerodspilios Cave, which is approximately 4km
outside of the town. Over thousands of years the caves have
developed an incredible display of stalactites and stalagmites
which are awesome to see. However, the caves also have great
historic and archaeological interest. In ancient times the
mythological giant Talos was worshipped there and, in Roman
times, the caves were dedicated to the worship of the god
Mercury.
In more recent times they have played an important role in the
struggles of liberation. For instance, in 1824, hundreds of
Cretans from the surrounding villages died in Gerodospilio. They
had been using the cave for the past two years to hide from the
Turkish invaders. Eventually their place of refuge was
discovered and rather than surrender the Turks closed the mouth
of the cave and set it alight. Some 340 women and children and
30 armed men suffocated in the fire. A plaque commemorating this
horrendous event has been placed inside the cave in what is
known as the ‘Hall of the Heroes.
A second place of interest lies in the village of Eleutherna,
some 12km south west of Perama. Here can be seen the ruins of
the ancient city known as Apollonia where the god Apollo and
goddess Diana were worshipped. The ancient city was built on a
natural hill and surrounded by fortified walls with only one
narrow bridge-like entrance into it which was further protected
by a tall tower. Today one can see the remains of these
fortified walls as well as the aqueduct which supplied water to
the citadel. There are also enormous cisterns with colossal
columns which supported the roof and the remains of the bridge.
Also, in this area, an ancient statue of a woman's body was
found which was of the Daedalic style and dates from the 7th BC.
It is now exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. .
