In the west of Crete, 48 kms from Chania between Topolia and Kartsomatado (Koutsamatados) in the gorge of Topolia you can find the Agia Sophia Cave and church (both with the same name).
When you drive in the west of Crete southwards from Kissamos than just after the village of Topolia there is a small tunnel and at the exit on your right you will see the opening of the cave of Agia Sophia.
You can park your car here and climb up the stairs. Downstairs you find the Panorama Caf� where you can have a refreshment after or before you climbed the stairs.
The chamber of the cave is very large and measures 100 by 100 meter and it is 20 meter high with beautiful (and some enormous) stalagmites and stalactites that come in different shapes. There is also a small church in the cave with an icon. According to tradition this icon came from Constantinople. Artefacts from the Neolithic times were found in the cave.
Agia Sophia Cave means "Cave of the wisdom of God." It is situated at an altitude of 400 meters, so there are quite a few steps to go before you reach the cave. It is named after an icon that originates from a temple in Constantinople. This temple was built by the Emperor Justinian and was taken away from the city by Cretan warriors. They had gone to Constantinople to protect the city against the attacks of the Turks. When Constantinople fell the Cretans remained to defend the tower. When the Turkish occupying forces asked them to stop they could leave the city with their weapons and anything else they wanted to take with them. Many of these fighters came from Kissamos and they took with them the icon and then hid it in a crack in the Agia Sophia Cave. Later a chapel built on the site.
During the Venetian period of Crete the bishop (Misail Psaromilingos) and his brother sacreficed themselves in the cave, and were beheaded by his son. They sacrificed themselves in order to obtain an amnesty from the Venetians. The two heads were presented to the Venetian rulers. Not long ago in the cave the two skeletons without a head were found.