Just 17 kilometers south of Heraklion and very close to the Monastery of Paliani, there is the Venerato gorge that starts from the village of Avgeniki and ends at Agios Fanourios church in the village of Venerato.
It is a really small 500-meter gorge, which is built under a rock with great inclination. The Apollo River passes though the gorge. It has water throughout the year and owes its name to the ancient town of Apollonia, ruins of which are preserved in this part.
Inside the gorge there are plane trees, dense vegetation and a lot of wild goats. The walls of the gorge reach a height of 25 meters, and its width narrows to 60 cm. Also, there are enough points that the visitor needs to get into the water or climb very easily on the rocks.
At some point in the canyon the walker will encounter a large cave, named Gra Spilia, in which many wild pigeons are sheltered. This particular cave was used as a shelter during the Ottoman domination and occupation of the island by the Germans.
After you reach 80 meters you will find a point where the gorge walls join together and forming small waterfalls. On your right there is a torn rock with a length of 20 meters which stops on a cliff. The route of the gorge ends at the Kouroupi site.
When you have finished this beautiful journey, you can enjoy traditional delicacies in both villages, Venerato and Avgeniki.
