Film info

Creator / Collector

Description
We are in Matala, a coastal village of the Community of Pitsidia of the Municipality of Phaistos in the Regional Unit of Herakleion of Crete.

The film opens with the impressive sandstone rock formations with the famous caves. The filmmaker shows us the building structure that existed then with a panoramic shot.

The film closes with the beach and the people who are there as well as one more view of the rocks.

Matala was the port of Phaistos during the Minoan period and the port of Gortys during the Roman period. Traces of the ancient settlement can be seen from the sea. On the steep coast of the village, are artificial cavernous spaces (and underwater caves) that are carved into the rock. They are said to have been tombs. But some have rooms, stairs, windows and porches. So it seems that they were once used as residences. The beds resemble Etruscan tombs. The caves remained empty for thousands of years until the 1960s when wandering hippies discovered them and inhabited them for a time. The caves seem to have closed for good around 1977.

Coordinates

Film Information

Holder
Kirimlidis Dimitris

Quality
2K

Sound
No

Color
Yes

Duration (seconds)
37

Format
8mm