The existence of numerous caves is inextricably linked to the rugged topography of Crete. People lived in caves thousands of years ago, as evidenced by the prehistoric carvings in the cave Skordilakia by Asfendou. Moreover, today's religious tradition in the caves, which hosts cavernous chapels, is an evolution of the worship of ancient gods inside caves.
Originally, the Minoans worshipped their major deities, such as Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth, in caves. Later, they placed the birth and upbringing of the king of the gods, Zeus, in the Diktaean and Idaean caves, turning them into important religious centers. During the Byzantine era, caves which according to tradition hosted Saints, such as Saint Paul, Gerasimos and John Xenos, were converted to important ascetic communities. Many pages of Cretan history were also written in the caves of Crete, such as the massacres in the caves of Melidoni, Milatos, Krionerida, Xotikospilios and Tigani at Gramvousa.
Many caves are of very high speleological and ecological significance. Caves with rich decoration which are open to visitors are the Diktaean Cave by Psychro, Gerontospilios by Melidoni and Sfendonis by Zoniana. Besides the caves of religious or historical value, Crete has more than 4.500 mapped caves and sinkholes, available to each experienced speleologist who wants to enjoy their rich decoration and fauna. Areas that host a large number of caves, ideal for cavers, is mount Stroumboulas by Heraklion, the Geopark of Sitia, the Geopark of Psiloritis and Melidoni area in the White Mountains. The three deepest explored sinkholes in Greece are all located in Crete.
Leon Cave was officially discovered on 11 August 2008 by a French-Greek team of speleologists, exploring the White Mountains of Chania (area Atzinolakos, near Melidoni of Fre municipality). However, its existence was known 15 years ago, during a French mission of the Catamaran Club. The area of Atzines has high speleological interest which has attracted mainly French, exploratory missions.
At the north side of Mount Bobias, between Fodele and Agia Pelagia, there is a small and unknown cave. Actually it is a long rock shelter formed by the impressive psammite rocks that dominate this area. The cave is located at the north side of the mountain, at the top of a vertical cliff of height 100 meters, in the middle of the 'Trail of the Pilgrims' towards the the church of Agios Sozon at Cape Stavros.
The cave of Petsis or Metaxaris is located at position Karavotopos, near Koutalis beach, in the area of the village Kokkino Horio in province Apokoronas. The cave has a very rich decor and is about 100 meters long, being one of the most important in the area (which has a large number of caves). Its interior has a lot of clay, so it's very slippery.
One of the many caves around Kalo Nero is the Vorinos (north) Spilios located just opposite the very old monastery that adorns the area, Panagia Zoodochos Pigi, on the slope east and higher than the temple. Access to the cave is not particularly difficult, and requires climbing only 10 minutes away from the monastery.
The cave of Kera Spiliotisa is located at Flomes position by Vrysses, Chania. The area is very tough to reach due to lush vegetation and the narrow entrance of the cave is not easily seen. It is located next to the area where archaeologists position the ancient town Pergamos or Polihna.
It is located right at the top of the hill but on the south side and not in the north where the excavations are. In front of the entrance there is an ancient stone yard and two large stones playing the role of a door. The cave inside has a spacious hall and is devoid of cave decoration. The large hall is greenish due to moisture. There is a very narrow gallery that led deeper into the mountain which however today is blocked by soil and manure.
Opposite the perennial plane tree in Keramota we meet the cave of Vrissi (Fountain) of Keramota. This cave despite the relatively small depth is really amazing. From the cavern end comes out water throughout the year and is stored in the village's fountain a few meters away. Several years ago the cave of the fountain was a very small hole from where the water came out. But from this tiny hole one could see the greatest width of the interior. Thus, the inhabitants of Keramota decided to break the rock and reach deep into the cave to the original spring of the water.
Csve Fandaxospiliara (aka the cave with the ghosts) is located next to the quarry of Latzimas, at Rethymnon province. The cave was an underground riverbed, which currently has no water. The length reaches 230m and the depth 11m.