Diktynna (Diktina)...
As you pass through the village of Rodopos en-route to Agia Ioannis or Diktina, the road narrows before the boundary of the village to become a single paved road and then, a little way on after it begins to climb, to rough unpaved track.  Spare a thought as you begin to leave the village that some of the roadside stone walls and a milestone into the village are said to be the survivors of an ancient paved Roman road which ran from Diktina to Kastelli.  surviving, perhaps, from as long ago as AD123.  Maybe the tourist I overheard saying that a British dry-stone Waller could "show 'em how it's done" didn't know that...

Diktynna.  Britomartis.  Daughter of the God Zeus.  Born, according to mythology, right here on Crete.  Remains from Roman times - a marble statue of Diktynna and a statue of the Roman emperor Hadrian discovered in 1913 - now stand in the archaeological museum in Chania.  The remains of temple built by Hadrian around AD123 survive at the site of an earlier temple built around the 7th Century BC.  Standing on a rocky plateau above the small cove and sandy beach a little way below.
Hadrian in A.D. 123.  The sandy cove at Dyktinna, Rodopos peninsulla, north western Crete. People stood here in the 7th century BC.  Britomartis. Daughter of Zeus. Dyktynna - end of the Rodopos peninsula. Looking down from the site of Hadrian's temple, now just a few stones. A beautiful sandy cove... Driving down is a challenge,,,
Getting there...
There are three ways, not counting that you may have a helicopter, of reaching Diktynna.
  • Walking  This may seem extreme to the less energetic among us, but, properly equipped, Diktynna is around five or six hours return from the village of Rodopos.  For walkers this is a superb hike with views of the mountains rising above as you rise, and magnificent views of the sea to the right and ahead as you climb almost to the highest point.  Have a look at the page about walking in the area of Rodopos and maybe refer to a good guidebook on walking such as 'Landscapes of Western Crete'.  You might prefer to join a guided tour organised by a travel company - this isn't a bad idea as the guides are very familiar with the area and know the best course of action to take given emergency situations.  Ask yourself, even if you are fit and have a mobile 'phone, could your really summon aid efficiently to an area you may be describing from an only average map to someone whose first language may not be yours?  And no, there isn't a travel company behind my remarks, just my own thoughts having been up there.

    You can hire private guides for around 30.000drx - maybe 60 GB Pounds a day, but having said that a couple of beers will set you back 2000 for two people in Chania Harbour so you are really only talking 15 beers!  More realistically, divided between two or four people the live guide becomes serious value for money.
  • Driving   If you are on holiday and have a car with decent ground clearance - a four wheel drive or even a minibus - then Diktina is within your grasp.  If you only have small car, crammed with four brawny adults, then you are going to have to make sure that you have insured the wheels and underside and tip-toe your vehicle along parts of this track.  A better bet is to ask your hire company to swap your small car for a higher clearance job - even if it is only a Fiat Panda (Good Clearance) - for the day.  Take your time.  Take your cameras.  Take your picnic.  And take your paper waste home!  And in high summer be very, very careful - don't light fires anywhere near dry grasses.
  • By Boat  This is the lazy way I believe.  Take the Saturday boat from Chania Old Harbour (Not Souda Bay) and make a day of it.  Out at 9am.  Back at 6.pm in time to get ready for a Saturday evening out in Chania.  I have to confess that I haven't done this yet, since I am hiring a private boat from Kolimbari because I want some other photographs as well which I can't get from the Chania boat.  However, it does seem a sensible option and will give many visitors a chance to see a bit of ancient civilisation here.
A photo tour will be added to this site in the near future.  On a safety note - remember to wear sensible clothing whichever route you choose.  Make sure that you have plenty of sunscreen cream and remember that there is nothing sissy about using high numbers when exposed to several hours of Cretan sunshine.
BACK HOME