The Doxa cave is located at an altitude of 463m, in the location of Kaka Pila near Marathos, 20km west of Heraklion. It is a small but well-known cave, which has very impressive cave decoration of various colors and forms. The Doxa Cave is located 7.5 kilometers after the junction for Tylissos, in the direction of Damasta. To the right of the road there is a tavern called Doxa, next to which is the entrance to the cave. The owner of the tavern has built a small path to the entrance of the cave, so access is easy and free. He can also supply you with flashlights, which are essential for those who attempt to visit the cave.
To the west of the cave there are two large pits, the 'Tafos tou Lakkos' and the 'Xetrypi'. The cave is only 50m long and has a total length of 100m. The entrance, which has also been artificially shaped, is 1.5m high and 2m wide. The cave is very old and weathered, but still very impressive. From the entrance begins a downhill corridor, which widens in width gradually. This corridor leads to four rooms.
The cave is ¨alive¨ and continues to form decorations. Although quite disturbed by the human presence in the cave, the decoration is massive and majestic. It is mainly concentrated in the last room, with main elements of rheumatoliths, curtains, stalactites and stalagmites, columns and very small elictites. In the center of the cave there is a platform with basins. One version of the origin of the name "Doxa" states that the travelers from Chania to Heraklion, after a tiring journey, reaching the area from which Heraklion can be seen, exclaimed: "Glory be to God". According to another version, near the cave there was the church of Agia Doxa.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou