Agios Ioannis

Agios Ioannis is a small mountainous village that belongs to the municipality of Sfakia, Crete. It is located 20 km away from the town and it was built at an altitude of 800 meters. Agios Ioannis is the ideal place for those who love nature and hiking, with routes that can satisfy and fill with wonder not only the experienced climbers but also the common walkers.

The area is inhabited only by a small number of residents who are mainly occupied in animal husbandry. However, in this verdant and full of pines shelter, visitors can find the hostel “Alonia” and the old manor of the Vardinogiannis family, whose origin is from there. Near the village there is an ancient olive tree which constitutes a monument of cultural heritage.

The village of Agios Ioannis constitutes an ethnological museum that gives prominence to the architecture of Sfakia. Visitors have the opportunity to see old manors with arches, turrets, battlements and fireplaces. Moreover, the Aradena gorge with its spectacular bridge is only a short distance from the area of Agios Ioannis.

One of the many routes of this village starts just outside the entrance of Agios Ioannis and extends to Agia Roumeli. This route crosses the pine forest, whereas on both sides there are small rocky parcels, cultivated by farmers of Agios Ioannis.