Treis Ekklisies, Archanes - Asterousia

Treis Ekklisies (Three Churches) is a small coastal settlement located 64 km south of Heraklion, in the Asterousia Mountains in Crete. The village is named after the three churches of Panagia, Afendi Christou, and Agios Georgios.

The wider area is one of the most isolated in Crete and has some of the most beautiful beaches on the island, many of which are accessible only by boat. The central beach of the settlement is quite large and has coarse sand and deep water. The beach is not particularly organized, but in recent years there are rooms for rent, cafes and tavernas.

Geography

The village is located between two rocky masses called Kolovrechtis and Bourouni. The central beach is defined to the west by the black rock Bourouni, where the boats of the residents moor and the stream from the gorge of Abas ends. Bourouni from a distance resembles a human face, having given food to various legends about its creation. One of them wants to be the petrified wife of a sailor who waited for him at this point for years, but he had drowned. In the middle of the beach and offshore is Plakoura, a reef that locals like to swim and stand on.

To the east is the impressive light-colored rock of Kolovrechtis. This strange name is due to an old type of fishing with nets near the shore, also known as a grip or pezotra. From Kolovrechtis starts another large beach that ends at Volakas, an impressive rock that has been torn in half. Kolovrechtis is not organized, it has shade from some tamarisks and to the west of it there are many oleanders that are watered by a source of fresh water.

East and west of the settlement there are many beautiful and more secluded beaches. To the east we find the beach of Krygia Vlychada, Tragopiastis and Vouidomatos, which can be visited by car, via a dirt road, as well as many other smaller ones, which are accessed by boat. To the west is the large and beautiful beach of Orniou. If you have a boat you can head east to the beaches of Laridas, Gaidaros Pidos, Alykes or swim in the beautiful caves with the turquoise waters, which are located between Treis Ekklisies and the Holy Monastery of Koudoumas.