Rouvas Gorge: Crete’s Holm-Oak Forest Ravine Above Zaros

July 14, 2026July 5, 2026 by Yannis Divramis

Rouvas Gorge is the green counterweight to the bare, sunbaked ravines of southern Crete. This wooded ravine cuts the southern slopes of Psiloritis above the village of Zaros, in the Heraklion district of central Crete. It shelters one of the largest surviving holm-oak forests on the island. Walkers arrive here for shade, running water and … Read more

Zaros: Crete’s Spring-Water Mountain Village

July 14, 2026July 4, 2026 by Yannis Divramis

Zaros rests on the southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis in central Crete, a green oasis fed by mountain springs that give the village its reputation across the island. The small Lake Votomos glimmers beside tavernas serving fresh trout raised in the clear water, and the Rouvas Gorge climbs through ancient oak forests to remote chapels … Read more