75 km south-west of Heraklion, on the west bank Mesarskoy Valley is a small resort village of Matala and the beach of the same name. The picturesque bay, which is located in the village, on both sides surrounded by rocky mountains with lots of caves. Matala beach is considered one of the best beaches on the island of Crete.

The history of this settlement goes back to the distant past, in the Neolithic period. It was then in the rocks surrounding the bay, were artificially created numerous caves are used as dwellings. Perhaps its heyday ancient settlement reached in the Minoan era when the village was the site of today's harbor town Fest - one of the most important centers of the Minoan civilization. During the period of Roman rule as Matala was the port, but the Roman town of Gortyna. In the 1st and 2nd centuries AD ancient caves were used to bury the dead. One of the caves is called Brutospeliana ("Cave of Brutus'), as according to an ancient legend of her visiting the famous Roman general Brutus.

For a long time, Matala was a small fishing village. Its tourist popularity, she began to take in the 60 years of the last century. Then the picturesque bay and the ancient cave was chosen by hippies. But after the collapse of one of the caves and the death of a person access to the cave was closed. Today, the tomb-cave guarded archaeological service and are available to tourists in an organized excursion.

Matala lives mainly due to tourism. Warm and crystal clear Libyan sea, gentle sunshine, gorgeous sandy beach, beautiful nature, comfortable hotels and apartments, cafes and taverns with traditional cuisine - there is everything necessary for a comfortable and relaxing holiday.