Visit the Museum of Domenicos Theotokopoulos in Fodele Village.

Fodele is a village that lies in the northern part of Crete, between Heraklion – Rethymnon, 25km away from Heraklion. There are three courses that you can follow in order to reach Fodele:
1. Via the new national road Heraklion – Chania.
2. Via the Heraklion – Rodia – Ahlada – Fodele route.
3. Via the old national road Heraklion – Chania following, a diversion after the Marathos village. This is the most beautiful and interesting route.

Fodele lies in a valley planted all over with orange groves and perennial plane-trees. The river PANTOMADRIS flows through the valley and ends in to the Fodele bay. The Fodele’s oranges are the most famous and the most delicious of Crete.

Fodele is the ‘green Oasis’ of the north side of Crete, it is a picturesque village with a long tradition it is worthwhile visiting it and enjoy the original Cretan cooking in the few restaurants of the village and on the beach, Fodele is a place where you can buy products of the Cretan nature (oranges, honey, raki, several herbs), works of popular art (embroideries, hand woven items) and also visit as well the Atelier KERAMOS for a guide through the Cretan ceramics.

At the west side of the village, one kilometer away lies the restored house where the great painter of the Renaissance DOMENIKOS THEOTOKOPOULOS (EL GRECO) was born, which is now a museum. It is worth admiring the works of art which are exhibited in the Museum. In the same site there is also the Byzantine church ‘The Presentation of the Virgin Mary’ of the 11th century A.D. which is built on the ruins of an older church of the 6th century. The Museum and Byzantine church are open every day from 9p.m. – 5a.m. except Monday.