Route 5
Dimylies - Tholi
Skalani village is built on a hill and around it the ground’s mosaic is sown with vines and olive trees. Man’s presence in the area is timeless. It is located next to Knossos and it constitutes a natural passage to the south and east. Skalani tunnel, a huge and emblematic technical work of the antiquity, is preserved to this day. It is 1,145 meters long, with at least five ventilation shafts. It is internally coated with bricks and it was created to supply Knossos with water during the Roman period.
In “Tholi” site as well as in “Dimylies” site, wine presses and troughs indicate a winemaking installation in a prominent place. Ex Boutari winery and now Scalarea estate is in “Fantaxometocho”, with a view to the four points of the horizon.
Points of Interest
1. Valley of Skalani
Valley of Skalani
Skalani is built on top of a fertile hill. If we watch it from above, we notice vines and olive trees alternating on the mosaic of its soil. Traces of human presence in the region go back quite far in time. It is located near Knossos and it constitutes a natural passage towards the regions of Pediada, Lasithi and Monofatsi.
Facing it is the hill of Ai Lias and, in between, olive trees and vines in an alternating mosaic of colors and crops. Westwards we find Spilia, which took its name from the carved caves-ancient quarries. A little farther there is Knossos, which defined Skalani’s fate during the prehistoric and historic years, sometimes with the Minoan palaces which Evans saw and sometimes with emblematic works such as the Roman tunnel, which was cleaned during the Egyptian Occupation to send the water of Fountana aqueduct to Heraklion.
2. Tholi Winepresses
Tholi Winepresses
In a prominent position overlooking the fertile valley, between the hill of Profitis Ilias and Karteros River, a large area with dimensions 6.56m x 4.25m x 2.00m is preserved, close to a rural road at “Tholii” site, N.E. of Skalani. The roof has collapsed, but on the south side part of the domed roof is preserved. The location’s name “Tholii” is probably due to the domed ceilings of those sites. Two troughs are seen (filled with rubble) with dimensions 1.016m x 0.90m x 0.60m; one of them probably was a holding tank. In an adjacent area to the north, the bases of two winepresses – most probably – are preserved with total dimensions 5.65m x 2.75m x 1.00m.
Judging from its large spaces, this installation probably was used for mass production of wine and it was export-oriented. After all, it is located on a fertile hill, and it is relatively close to the port of Heraklion.
3. Dimylies Winepresses
Dimylies Winepresses
A winemaking complex is preserved in a prominent position at “Dimylies” site, overlooking the fertile valley N.E. of Skalani, close to a rural road. It consists of two covered winepresses, with dimensions 2.80m x 3.30m and preserved height 2.11m on the inner side. The trough is artistically carved, with a stone edge 1.60m x 0.75m. Nearby there are buildings, one of which is 6.87m long. The good construction of the winepress and the trough indicates that this installation probably was export-oriented since the port of Heraklion was relatively close and the access to it was easy.
Karteros River valley stretches towards the east and northeast; it has fertile soil and a lot of water.
4. Scalarea Winery
Scalarea Winery
Boutari Winery is built outside the village of Skalani in Fantaxometocho estate, only 8 km far from the center of the city of Heraklion and 4 km from the archaeological site of Knossos; it is the jewel of the wine-growing zone of Archanes.
Fantaxometocho estate, or “Haunted farm”, owes its name to the efforts of its former owner to save it from pirate raids by spreading rumors that the estate was inhabited by ghosts.
The planting of the vineyard began by Boutari Winery in 1990. Boutari Winery’s main goal for this specific vineyard was to lay the foundation for further recognition of the Cretan wine worldwide, through the production of high quality wines. In an area famous for its ecosystem but also for its tradition in viticulture, it has managed until now to make known the potential of the local varieties and – through important distinctions – to promote the Cretan vineyard to the general public.
5. Skalani Vineyards
Skalani Vineyards
The region’s fertile soil and the water supply, due to Karteros River eastward, drove the inhabitants to create settlements since the Neolithic years (site Tholi A); their residence continued during the Minoan and Mycenaean years, as indicated by the remnants.
Karteros River Valley in the east extends southwards and reaches Fantaxometocho estate, where the former Boutari winery existed; now it is Scalarea estate. The winery, spanned by parts of Fountana aqueduct, is located on a hill with vineyards around it. From the hill of the winery the view to the four points of the horizon is full of vines and olive trees, since the fertile clay earthen mounds around it drove the locals to this type of cultivation over time.
6. Skalani Tunnel
Skalani Tunnel
Today Fountana spring, south of the village, supplies Skalani with water but during the Roman period, it supplied Knossos. A serious problem existed then: the water flowed by gravity and Skalani hill created an obstacle. For this reason, an 1140m long tunnel was carved, which is preserved to this day, so that the water could pass to Spilia and from there to Knossos by natural flow. This was a huge project with at least five ventilation shafts, internally lined with bricks while at the entrance-exit there was a pointed arch made of stones.
The tunnel was cleaned during the Egyptian occupation period (1830-40) with many victims, as reported by the late Stavrinidis. In their attempt to clean and make the tunnel functional, it appears that many Egyptian soldiers entered it and, after filling the narrow space with carbon dioxide by their breath, they died due to lack of oxygen.
This tunnel is one of the best-preserved projects of the antiquity in Crete, in its initial form.
