THE AREA OF GOUVES
On the north coast of Crete and to the east of Heraklion, this municipality spreads from the lovely beaches a few kilometres inland to the fertile fields and picturesque villages that cling to the different hills. In recent years, the tourist development has been very marked in this area, due on the one hand to its wonderful beaches, on the other hand, to its vicinity to Heraklion to the west and Hersonisos a few kilometres to the east. It covers an area of 9496 ha. and has a population of 4918 people.
Nowadays, the summer resorts of Kato Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Hani, Amnissos and Karteros have a complete tourist infrastructure to meet all demands. Organised beaches, large modern hotels, family apartments, restaurants, small taverns, recreation centres, sports centre, shops, car and motorbikes for rent, small ports (marinas) for small boats, in a word they provide everything our visitors require to spend an agreeable and carefree holiday, enjoying the sunshine by day and the thrilling night-life in the numerous bars in the area.
At a short distance inland you can escape the lively racket of tourist life and find peace and quiet in a traditional setting. Picturesque villages, important monuments, lovely monasteries like the one of "Kyra Eleousa" and "Theologos", mysterious caves like "Ilithia" and the one of Skotino at Aghia Paraskevi, the pretty chapels strewn all over the beautiful Cretan landscape will remain in your mind and in your heart long after your holidays are over… If you are on your way to Lassithi, a ride through this lovely region will increase your enjoyment.
GOURNES VILLAGE
Located on the road from Iraklion to Agios Nikolaos 15km from Iraklion Gournes is a coastal village of 1500 permanent residents. The name (gourna= basin) probably derives from the watering places that used to be there years ago. Gournes is mentioned with this name since 1280 but later it was abandoned because it was on the road of the numerous invaders to the eastern Crete. Excavations carried out in 1945 unearthed tombs of the Minoan period with many significant findings. Another significant monument is the old chapel of Saint John Bezetis located in the small valley with well-preserved frescoes. For a long period in Gournes was stationed the "American Base" and the numerous American soldiers who served there still remember those days and their Cretan friends.
Nowadays Gournes is practically a popular tourist resort together with Kokkini Hani providing all the modern facilities to the visitors. The municipality of Anopolis is planning to build a modern marina near the place where the American base used to stand. 
