普雷维利峡谷里的河流和棕榈树森林，希腊克里特岛

© borchee/Getty Image

值得一去的魅力峡谷

这里是特洛伊战争时期的休息站？据当地传说，这个位于克里特岛南部引人注目的历史地点，是奥德修斯返回伊萨卡的中途停留地。无论你是否相信荷马史诗中的跳岛传说，你都无法否认棕榈树成荫的普雷韦利峡谷和迷人海滩的非凡魅力。这张照片画面外的普雷韦利海滩，是20世纪60年代和70年代嬉皮士旅行者最喜欢的地方。今天，这里仍然是一个如田园诗般美好的旅行目的地。

像大多数古老的、人迹罕至的地中海岛屿一样，克里特岛（众多希腊岛屿中最大的一个）有着丰富而悠久的历史。普雷维利峡谷位于克里特岛的南部海岸，同时也是一个著名的修道院所在地。这个修道院有两个建筑群：施洗者圣约翰的下修道院和神学家圣约翰的后修道院。这些圣地至少可以追溯到16世纪，并且很有可能起源于更早的10世纪。

在奥斯曼帝国占领克里特岛的漫长历史中，普雷维利修道院是暴乱和爱国的中心。修道院的僧侣经常在反对占领者的起义中担任领袖和战士。经过250多年，克里特岛终于赢得了自由，并于1913年加入了希腊。当修道院在第二次世界大战期间为抗击德国的盟军提供庇护与补给时，它又一次成为了世界重大事件的中心。

Preveli Gorge, South Chania, Crete, Greece

© borchee/Getty Image

Prevali Gorge, Greece

Local legend has it that this striking and historic location in southern Crete was a stopover on Odysseus’s long return to Ithaca. Whatever credence you give to Homeric tales of island hopping, there’s no denying the appeal of the palm-lined Preveli Gorge or the enchanting beach it flows out to. Preveli Beach, just out of the frame of this image, was a favourite spot for hippie travellers in the ‘60s and ‘70s and remains an idyllic tourist destination today.

Like most of the ancient Mediterranean islands, Crete – the largest of the many Greek isles – has a rich, epoch-spanning history. Here on Crete’s southern coast, Preveli Gorge is home to an influential monastery with two building complexes: the Lower (Kato) Monastery of Saint John the Baptist and the Rear (Pisso) Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. The holy sites date back at least as far as the 16th century, and possibly had origins as far back as the 10th century.

During the long occupation of Crete by the Ottoman Empire, Preveli Monastery was a centre of rebellion and patriotism, with monks often serving as leaders and warriors in the many revolts against the occupiers. After more than 250 years, Crete finally won its freedom and joined Greece in 1913. The monastery would again find itself at the centre of world events when it provided shelter and supplies to Allied soldiers fighting German occupiers during World War II.