Σπήλαια Ματάλα

Matala Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Μάταλα, Pitsidia 702 00. Matala, 75 km south-east of Heraklion, Crete. (34.995106, 24.749893)
Open:	All year daily 10-19. [2024]
Fee:	Adults EUR 4, Children (6-25) EUR 2, Children (0-5) free. EU Citizens: Adults EUR 4, Children (-25) free, Seniors (65+) EUR 2. [2024]
Classification:	Cave House
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:
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History

Neolithic Age	caves created.
1st and 2nd century	used as tombs.
1960s	occupied by hippies.
1969	Canadian folk singer Joni Mitchell spends several weeks living in the Matala caves.
1971	Joni Mitchell publishes songs Carey and California about the caves on the albun Blue.

Description

The Σπήλαια Ματάλα (Matala Caves) are artificial caves in sandstone, cut by man since prehistoric times. They are located above the cove of Matala, on the southern coast of Crete. The face of the cliff is speckled with caves, many of them can easily be visited.

Although of great archaeological interest, the caves became famous in the 1960s, because they were used as a place to live by international hippies. The local administration was not happy with this sort of squatting, but they did little against it. It is said that even famous people of the 1960s and 1970s, like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Cat Stevens and Joni Mitchell stayed at the caves for some times. The Canadian singer and musician Joni Mitchell wrote two songs about the caves, Carey and California, both on her 1971 album Blue. However, finally little remained of the enthusiastic start, and the caves were becoming a home to criminals and drug dealers. At least that’s what the government said when they finally closed the caves and cleaned them. Since then, nobody has lived in the caves. Later it was possible to visit them freely. Today the cliff is fenced in, and there is a small fee to visit the site. This is actually not a bad thing as it provides protection and works well against vandalism.

Matala is the place where Zeus in the form of a bull came ashore with the Phoenician princess Europa, whom he had abducted. Here he transformed himself into an eagle and took Europa on to Gortyn.

The first caves were dug during the Neolithic. The porous sandstone is so soft, it was possible to dig cave houses with stone age tools. In the Minoan era, this site was probably the harbour of Phaistos. During the Roman occupation of Crete, Matala was the harbour of Gortyn, the caves were used as burial sites. The Saracens under Abu Hafs Omar, who conquered Crete in 824, first went ashore in Matala.