The beautiful beach with the characteristic caves on the rock became known mainly by the hippies or the children of flowers if you prefer, who had camped for several years in the area back in the 1960s 1970s.
This is a beautiful place with a very beautiful beach which is known to have been inhabited since antiquity. It is located in the southern part of the prefecture of Heraklion, close to the Minoan city of Phaistos. The caves in the rock are artificial with the prevailing theory saying how they originally served as tombs. However because some of them have separate rooms with windows and semi-outdoor spaces it is believed that they have also been used as residences.
Today it is an archeological site which you can visit by paying a small ticket. The village of Matala is a small fishing village but you will find everything. From hotels and pensions, to taverns, restaurants, cafes and beach bars. The night also has a pretty good nightlife with plenty of shops. To enjoy your drink or cocktail. Every year in June the local municipality organizes a very interesting music festival with the participation of Greek and foreign artists attracting people from all over Crete and not only who want to move for a while in the late 1960s.
The area of Matala is located 70 km southwest of Heraklion.