map of Crete Between Palekastro and Zakros in east of Crete you can find lots of pretty villages with beautiful churches in a green surrounding. Azokeramos is one of them and it can be reached on the Sitia - Palekastro - Azokeramos - Zakros road. The distance from Sitia is about 30 kilometers. At the entrance of the village there is the Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis. Together with a number of other small villages the village of Azokeramos lies in in a fertile valley that is surrounded by high mountains on all sides. In the village Azokeramos itself there is a nice big church in the shape of a cross. Next to the church stands the clock tower and it is surrounded by cypresses. Here you have wonderful views over the valley which is filled with olive trees. A little deeper into the village there is another small church that consists of two houses with turrets at the back. At the front you can see the tower with the clock rise high above the church. The front also has three crosses. Also there are many crumbling old stone houses in the village.

The Minoan Peak Sanctuary Traostalos near Azokeramos

At the small Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis, located near the entrance of the village, starts the footpath that leads to the Minoan sanctuary Traostalos. The Agios Ioannis church lies in front of the cemetery of the village and has an odd shape and a special frame around its door. The sanctuary lies between Azokeramos and Kato Zakros. We started walking when we saw the sign at the church because we thought that the shrine would be on top of the hill in front of us, but when we were on the top (a steep climb), and when we were around it, it was clear that the path went all to the next, even higher mountain. The sanctuary is in fact on the other side of this next, higher mountain. I understand that you do the tour with a car because the road is wide but is is also quite bad (rocks, bumps, etcetera). You could give it a try if you wanted to. In any case there are places where you can turm the car around and go back if you don't want to continuw, but I would definitely not recommend it. We have not finished the hike because it was just too far (and we didn't bring water). Along the way you do have the most beautiful views of green valleys with small villages in it, the mountains and the sea. Altogether, the distance between the church and the sanctuary at Azokeramos is approximately 5 kilometer and up and down two mountains. The sanctuary is located at 520 meters altitude on the top of Mount Traostalos. Remember that you have to walk back again as well.