Deep canyons and reddish rocks shape the landscape between Paleo Kastro and Kato Zakros. One is reminded of stone deserts where various high valleys with green meadows look like little oases. One of these canyons, “Valley of the Dead” leads down from the mountain village of Zakros down to the sea at Kato Zakros. It has this rather creepy name because in ancient times the dead were buried in dozens of rock caves. It is otherwise know as the oleander valley which I think is a much more fitting and less morbid name for this beautiful valley. Kato Zakros itself is only a little strip at the sea with a few apartments and taverns. The nearby excavation was discovered in 1962 by the Greek archeologist Platon and is one of the four biggest Minoan palaces on Crete.
