Following the road north Anopoli and 3.5 km lies the ruined village now. Reaching the point of contemplating the iron bridge which connects the two sides of the homonymous gorge. This image is unique. Crossing the metal bridge, you will enjoy the beauty of high Aradainiotikou gorge. The Aradena located on the west side and on the brink of the homonymous gorge that separates the plateau Aradaina the plateau Anopoli, east of Agia Roumeli and near St John at an altitude of 520m.
The ruins of ancient Aradin Iradin or preserved in place Passopetra, near the present village that has preserved the name. It was after referring autonomous city between 30 Cretan cities that signed the treaty of alliance with Eumenes B Pergamon in 183 BC The ancient necropolis in place Xenotafi. Port Aradaina was the Phoenix. Believes founded by Phoenician colonists and the name associated with Phoenicia Aruad word meaning shelter and namesake town was in Phoenicia. The Aradena until the last centuries of Venetian and Ottoman first prospered because its inhabitants were engaged in shipping and trade.
The village became a target several times by the Turks because of its resistance, and because here manufactured weapons. During the revolution of Daskalogianni against the Turks in 1770, was completely destroyed. Isolated in 1824 in the Aradena Samiotis captain Hadji Georgis Maniatis Reader Manouselis with a few companions, where killed in battle with the Turk-Egyptians Hussein. The village is mentioned in the Egyptian census in 1834. That same year Pashley says there were 38 houses and the main product of the village were wheat, barley and silk. On 08.11.1867 the Cretans chieftain Costaras and Kriaris Mantakakis, the Maniots under Petropoulakis in fierce battle that took place in Aradena, attack repulsed 10,000 Turkish soldiers Resit Pasha. In 1881 the village is reported to belong to the municipality of St. John with 124 inhabitants. 1900 refers to 188. The village was abandoned in the 1950s due to vendetta.
Here is the church of the Archangel Michael or Astratigos, which was built during the early 14th century in place of the nave of one of the two basilicas that exist in the seat of the Diocese Phoenicia'' ie'' Aradenas. It differs from other cross-domed churches of Crete, because following degenerate tendencies of the Greek School in the architecture.
The iconographic program includes low standing saints and scenes from the evangelical circle, the Life of the Archangels, the life of St. Nicholas and the Second Coming. The wall paintings dating back to the first decades of the 14th century can be attributed with high probability the famous painter Michael Veneris. The church celebrates on 8 November. In recent years some homes renovated.
The abandoned village is ideal for a leisurely stroll through the narrow paths and homes, which are built according to traditional architecture Sfakiani. The bridge is stylish canteen. The iron bridge that connects the two sides of the gorge are offering Vardinogianni brothers whose family hails from St. John, a village 5 km west of Aradena. The bridge was completed in 1986, has a height of 138m. and is the highest in Greece and the second in Europe. In the middle of the bridge's platform and carried out in this sport of jumping with elastic rope, bungee jumping. The fans of the genre are able to canyon jumping every weekend during the months of June, July and August. The bridge and if you are lucky, you will enjoy the flights of griffins barbatus-barbatus. The large raptors nest on the steep slopes of the gorge. Also on the east side of the gorge, recently placed trough for birds. Behind the canteen starts the descent path to the magnificent gorge Aradaina length of 7 km, which after about 3.5-4 hours enchanting hiking ends in the beautiful beach Dialiskari or marble, where you can enjoy swimming and 'pinch' in the canteen there. Then you can go with a small boat or on foot (about 2 hours) in the bath and then in the Country.