In the small farming settlement of Douli, Gortyna Municipality, there is the church of Agios Nikolaos which dates back to the 13th or 14th century, possibly from the early period of the Venetian rule. It is a single-aisled church with blind arches and a sling, which has fresco decoration in its largest part. 

Tradition has it that the reason why the temple still stands is because its patron has protected it throughout the years, not only from the Muslims during Ottoman occupation, but also from the fury of nature itself. Just above the temple rises a hill with large rocks called "Pyrgos" (=tower). One of the rocks, as the old-timers recount, detached itself and was about to fall, leveling the church. Saint Nikolaos, however, held it up there with his hand so that it wouldn't fall. As proof, they even point to an incision on the rock that resembles the Saint’s palm print. 

However, time and the recent earthquakes have not been kind to the church of Agios Nikolaos which has leaned to one side, while inside it there are cracks and significant damage to those frescoes that have not been covered by lime.