Anogeia and the Psiloritis Shepherd Country

Why Psiloritis

Sheep and goats have grazed these slopes since antiquity, and the Region of Crete still points visitors to Anogeia for traditional mountain life. The animals feed on wild plants, which is what gives Cretan graviera, kefalotyri and mizithra their flavour. Most of the milk now goes to modern dairies, but in summer some shepherds still make cheese up on the mountain.

The Nida Plateau and Its Mitata

The road south from Anogeia climbs to the Nida plateau, below the summit of Psiloritis (2,456 m, marked by the chapel of Timios Stavros). The mitata here are round, domed huts built from dry stone alone. Shepherds used them as shelter, for milking goats and for making cheese. On the same trip you can see the Idaean Cave, linked in myth to the childhood of Zeus, the ruins of ancient Zominthos and the Skinakas observatory. Snow can last into late June on the high ground.

Where to Join In

• The Shepherd's Shelter, Krana: watch milking and help make graviera, myzithra and anthotyro, April to October, by request.
• Arkadianos Farm, Latzimas: a short farm visit with a cheese tasting, lower down towards Arkadi.
• O Topos tou Voskou (Shepherd's Land), about 1 km south-east of Anogeia on the road to Nida: a small park with a rebuilt mitato, a cheese store and a shepherd path, run by a local social co-operative. Opening times are not published, so call +30 6974 722311 first.

Festivals

Summer is festival season in these villages. Zoniana holds a shepherd and cheese festival each summer, usually in early August, with a giant kefalotyri cut in the square, and Geraki, south-east of Heraklion, held its cheese festival on 27 July 2026. See Crete's cheese festivals for dates.

Getting There and Around

Anogeia is an easy day trip by road from Heraklion or Rethymno. A car makes the area far easier, and it is the practical way up to the plateau. Several day tours from Heraklion and Rethymno combine Anogeia, the Sfendoni cave at Zoniana and a cheesemaking stop.

When to Go

April to October covers the cheesemaking season at the Shepherd's Shelter. Late spring brings flowers and fresh cheese; July and August bring the village festivals. In winter the plateau can be snowbound.