Tímios Stavrós

Tímios Stavrós (Holy Cross) is a mountain chapel at an elevation of 1.473m (4,832ft) above the sea level, located in eastern Crete, Greece. The average gradient is 8.96%.

The road to the summit is mostly gravel. 4wd vehicle required. Its many twists, turns and narrows can pose a challenge to even the most experienced drivers. The road is not easy, though. Up, down, right, left all the time. Driving at night, or in poor visibility, is not recommended for drivers unfamiliar with the road. The road is narrow. It’s not possible to overtake a car, even with a bike. The road is a delight to drive, with every kind of twist and turn. It offers great views of the sea and Pacheia Ammos village. At the summit there’s a communication tower.
Due to the high elevations and exposure, the road is subject to strong winds. High winds blow here all year long. The road is pretty steep. The ascent is 5.4 km long via 20 hairpin turns. The elevation gain is 484 meters. The average gradient is 8.96%.