Map of Crete The small town of Timpaki is situated on the coast in southern Crete, on the west side of the Messara Valley. The distance from the capital Heraklion is 65 km. In the fertile area around Timpaki are many greenhouses where vegetables are grown. There are tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and artichokes, but you will also find many olive trees and citrus trees. Also along the streets of the town you will see orange trees and grapes that are hanging from the houses. In the bustling town live about 8,000 people. After Mires it is the largest town on the Messara plain. Especially in the main street where the main route from east to west in the southern part of Crete leads through the town, it can be very chaotic. If you leave this road it immediately gets much more quiet.

There are some nice houses and churches in Timpaki but there are also ugly concrete buildings, sometimes partly falling to pieces and covered with graffiti. Noticable is that people are very friendly. I got the impression that not many tourists come to see Timpaki. Some of the Greek residents enthusiastically greeted us when we walked a little further into the town. You will find all facilities in Timpaki: shops, banks, supermarkets, taverns, kafenions, schools and a post office. Every Friday there is a market in the city where local products are sold, such as bread, cheese and vegetables.

On the large square just behind the main road there are two churches: the new big church of Agios Titus stands beside the old church of Agios Titus (right, so both of the same name). The old church was once destroyed and rebuilt between 1922 and 1925. Inside the church are some old icons to be seen, but unfortunately the church was closed. Now, in 2011, they were again busy restoring this church. In front of the large church is an old airplane bomb(?) on a standard. Agios Titus is the patron saint of Timpaki and every year on August 25 the residents organize a party in his honor.

In 1940 during the German occupation all inhabittants had to leave the village and many houses were burned. After the war the village was rebuilt. It eplains why there are quite a few new buildings in Timpaki and few really old houses. The only old houses that have been preserved, are the houses that the Germans chose to live in themselves.

Near Timpaki are many important Minoan sites to be found, such as the palaces of Agia Triada and Phaestos. Also seaside resorts such as Agia Galini, Kalamaki, Kommos and Matala are in the vicinity. The closest beach to Timpaki is the beach net to the town, which is Kokkinos Pyrgos beach. Kokkinos Pirgos Beach is also known as Kataliki Beach and you can see it on some of the signs when you drive through the village.