The village of Karidi on the island of Crete

Close to Zakros, at 25 kilometers distance of Sitia, in the southeast of Crete lies the highland village of Karidi. We took a new (but VERY scary!) new road from Adravasti to Karidi and then to Mitato, Rousa Eklisia and Sitia. On a certain point it's like you are driving on top of the mountains. The mountains have become small hills, because you are all the way up. The landscape you drive through is very enchanting and almost unearthly beautiful though. It is also still quite green for the altitude.

The name of Karidi derives from the walnut trees that you can find here (karidia means walnut tree). The village is situated at an altitude of 600 meters and it feels a bit isolated and away from the rest of the world. It is a traditional and quiet Cretan village with narrow streets and white washed stone houses. Close to Karidi, about one and a half kilometer east of the village, there are two large caves with stalagtites and stalagmites, that were already inhabited in Minoan times. In the village you find the Agios Antonios church and the Profitis Ilias church. Just outside the village on the east side is the Timios Stavros church.