Koules of Mátala / Mátala tower (Crete)
Elevation: 55 m / 180 ft
Type: peak
Views: 447
Popularity: 19% (3015th place)
Description of mountain:
The walls above Mátala on the island of Crete (Eng. Koules of Mátala / Mátala tower; Gr. Κουλές Ματάλων) are the remains of a coastal fortress from the Ottoman Empire era, which was in use until the Cretan revolts in the second half of the 19th century. It is located on one of the local peaks of Cape Ákra Mátala or the Kastri hill, 55 meters above sea level.
Today, only the wall remains of this coastal fortress, and the local peak is a beautiful vantage point offering views of the Libyan Sea, the uninhabited Paximadia islands, and the coastal village of Mátala with its picturesque, artificial caves carved into the rock along Zeus Beach. The caves date back to the Neolithic era; later, the Romans used them for burial activities. In modern history, the area is known as a hippie commune where they sought refuge from the draft during the Korean and Vietnam Wars in the 1960s and 1970s. The hippies created an artistic atmosphere in this beautiful place, developing music genres from Rock'n Roll and others (e.g., Bob Dylan) to simple necklaces and other decorations. The artistic vibe of this village can still be felt at every step today, although the area is now overrun by tourism.
Worth mentioning is the main beach in Mátala: Zeus Beach. According to Greek mythology, Zeus, transformed into a bull, swam here to Crete across the sea. On his back, he carried the Phoenician princess Europa. This event later contributed to the emergence of the first European civilization, namely the Minoan civilization (the Minoan period was Bronze Age and lasted from 2600 to 1450 BC, when it was destroyed by the eruption of the Thira / Santorini volcano and the tsunami that occurred). Etymologically, the word "Europe" first appears in this myth (a later record is in the literary source Iliad).
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