Martha village is located 54 kilometers south of Heraklion, at an altitude of 390 meters at the foot of the hill Koupa Dikti. The village consists of two small villages Pera Martha or Little Martha and Pode Martha or Great Martha.

For the origin of the name of the village there are two guesses. The first states that the name comes from the nun of the monastery dedicated to Annunciation that existed in the region, while the latter states that the name comes from a ruler lady whose mansion which ruins exist today and was near the monastery.