Matala Caves

The caves in the matala cliffs started out as tombs but were used as troglodyte homes by hippies in recent years - Matala, Iraklio Province, Crete

Matala’s sightseeing credentials are limited to these famous caves where hippies camped out in the 1960s and 1970s (Joni Mitchell immortalised the scene in her 1971 song 'Carey'). Hewn into the porous sandstone cliffs in prehistoric times, they were used as tombs by the Romans, under whom Matala was the port town for Gortyna.

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