Epano Vatheia is a village in Heraklion Prefecture.
Of historical interest is the old church of Saint Antony, with remains of murals. The church is reported in notarial contracts in 1271 as well as in a document dating to 1394. In 1583, it is reported to have numbered 125 residents. In the Ottoman inventory 1671 it is recorded as having fifteen families, while in the Egyptian inventory of 1834 it has 10 Christian and 3 Muslim ("Cretan Turks") families. On the contrary, in the inventory of 1881 only 2 Christians and 225 Muslims were reported. By 1900, it numbered only 10 residents, and none in 1920. By 1928 it had been repopulated, with 258 people living there.
Heraklion has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with clear skies. Dry hot days are often relieved by a system of seasonal breezes. Winters are mild with relatively little rain and rare frosts. .
Located in the middle of the island, all roads lead to Heraklion.
There are daily flights from Athens airport and other major Greek cities by Olympic Air (dead link: January 2023) and Aegean Airlines. During summer, Sky Express flies to several Aegean islands.
From April till early November charter airlines fly directly to Heraklion from many European airports.
Heraklion is connected with the rest of Crete by regular bus lines operated by two KTEL companies , (dead link: January 2023). The coaches are modern, comfortable and air-conditioned. Fare is reasonable. connections can be made by KTEL Buses in Kokkini Hani to/from both Agios Nikolaos and the island capital Heraklion
There are two bus stations in Heraklion:
There are ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion, Minoan Lines , Anek Lines and Superfast Ferries - and also there are normal ferries from Thessaloniki and Dodecanese - G.A. Ferries , and Highspeed Catamarans and normal ferries from Cyclades to Heraklion. G.A. Ferries , Sea Jets , Santorini Maritime and Hellenic Seaways . The frequency is reduced in the winter.
The only solution is to arrive to one of the big Ports of Crete (Heraklion, Chania, Sitia or Rethymnon). Then you have to hire a car, if you have not done it yet.
There are Highspeed Catamaran and normal ferries from/to Heraklion, Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion, Minoan Lines , Anek Lines and Superfast Ferries - and also from Thessaloniki, Cyclades and Dodecanese to Heraklion. Sea Jets Santorini Maritime and Hellenic Seaways . The frequency is reduced in the winter. Also every summer there is One Day Cruise from Heraklion to Santorini by cruise boat or highspeed catamarans
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division