Iraklia the Cave of Agios Ioannis

The most impressive sight of Iraklia is the Cave of Agios Ioannis. Starting from the village and necessarily having the help of a guide, you will live an indelible experience.

A few minutes after you pass the Vourkaria cove, you come across the cave, in order to enter it you need to bend down and crawl a few meters. As the inhabitants of the island aptly warn, “if you don’t fall on all fours, you won’t enter the cave”. Opposite the cave entrance is a large cave said to have been the home of the giant Polyphemus. According to legend, he was blinded by the resourceful Odysseus to escape with his men.

However, the Cave of Heraklia remains unused and unexploited for tourism. Everyone has the ability to take parts of his stalactite wealth. As Nektarios explains to us, “according to tradition, around the end of the 19th century, a shepherd had laid down under a bush to protect himself from the rain. When he returned to the village, his fellow villagers saw the figure of Saint John the Forerunner imprinted on his shirt.

They asked the shepherd to take them to where he had lain, and when they went, they discovered the entrance to the cave.

Entering inside they found the icon of Saint John the Forerunner and thus the cave got its name. The second version says that the shepherd lost a goat every day, which appeared when the flock returned to the fold. One day he followed him and saw him go under a large rope, where he discovered the icon of Saint John the Forerunner.”

Don’t expect lights and gear, so the guide’s flashlights are essential so you don’t miss the exit, as well as essential supplies! This captivating experience takes a total of about 2.5 hours and on the way back, the images of the sunset are the best gift for relaxation.