map of Crete Vathi is a small, quiet and traditional mountain village that you will drive through when you are on your way to the Chrisoskalistissa Monastery or to the beach of Elafonisi island in the southwest of Crete. It has just over 100 residents. The village is located 1 kilometre from another traditional village, Kefali. Vathi has two Byzantine churches with frescoes: the Agios Georgios church from the 13th century and the Michael Arhangelos church from the 12th century. To reach the first church take the road that leads up on the left of the fountain on the main square of Vathi. The route is indicated by a sign. After about 200 meters that turns into an old path. It understand that the church is open. Inside are well-preserved frescoes of the Archangel Gabriel, and in a niche is a fresco of the Virgin Mary with child. (Please note: I was there in 2016 and the church was locked).

To view the second church, which is situated below in a field in the south of the village, you need the assistance of the priest in the village (for help you can ask the kafenion of the village and afterwards give the priest and the church a tip for his "work"). In this church are 14th century frescoes of Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena, of the fall of Jericho, of Christ coming into Jerusalem and of the betrayal of Judas. This small white church is standing next to the road and is easily overlooked. It was also closed when I was there in 2016.

In the village of Vathi you can see many more interesting churches, one at the entrance of the village on the right hand side as you enter Vathi from the north and another church dating from 1912. The last one you can reach by taking the small asphalt road on the left hand side as you leave the village. Park your car near the river, walk back and take the first small alley on your left. This ends in a small olive grove. When you pass it you are at the church. Besides these two churches there is also the newer church with the blue roof and the clock tower. As you walk through Vathi you will see a lot of beautiful old ruins of Turkish or Venetian(?) houses.