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SIGHTS
CHANIA PREFECTURE SIGHTS
The prefecture of Chania Greece is the western most of the four prefectures of Crete. The capital is the beautiful town of Chania where modern, Venetian, Turkish and traditional architecture are blended together in a perfect harmony, creating a unique and attractive picture. Various archaeological sites, villages, churches, caves, gorges and wonderful beaches are embellishing the attractive and full of charms prefecture of Chania.
AGIA MARINA
Could be called Chania's resort and beach hotel section. Many beach hotels and numbers of apartments and smaller hotels of wide range in style and standard. Many cafes, restaurants, tavernas, gift shops and car rental offices stretch along the coast road. There is plenty of nightlife.
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AKROTIRI
East of Chania and at a distance of barely 15 km, following the road towards the International airport, is the peninsula called Kiamon in the old days and Akrotiri today. It is a historic peninsula associated with the liberation struggles of Crete. Akrotiri shapes the bay of Suda, one of the biggest natural harbours in Greece. Worth visiting:
- The Venizelos graves, 6 km from Chania, with a breathtaking view of the town
- The monastery of Agia Triada, 16 km from Chania. One of the few monasteries in Crete where monastic life is practised.
- The monastery of Gouverneto, 20 km from Chania, which has beautiful embossed decorations in Venetian style. The liturgies of Holy Week are atmospheric. Older than the monastery of Agia Triada, with old murals, it gives a feeling of seclusion and isolation.
- The beaches of Akrotiri. There are many beautiful beaches, such as Stavros, Kalathas, Tersanas, Loutraki, Marathi.
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CHANIA TOWN
City of Chania stands on the site of ancient "Kydonia". According to legend, King Minos' grandson, Kydon, founded the city.Excavations in the Kastelli area of the city have uncovered Neolithic pottery, signs of Bronze Age settlements and Minoan tombs. Kydonia was an important city-state in the Late Minoan and Post Minoan Period.It prospered during the Classical Greek and Roman periods. This prosperity continued into the Byzantine period but as the empire suffered so did its outposts.
In the thirteenth century the Genoese, traditional enemies of the Venetians, gained the support of the local population and seized the city. Twenty years later the Venetians again gained control of the city, renaming it La Canea. They quickly strengthened the defences of the city. In two stages, during the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, they built the city walls. Despite these great fortifications the city fell to Turkish invaders in 1645 after a two month siege. Turkish rule ended in 1898 and independence was granted by France, Britain, Russia, and Italy. However, the desire to unite with mainland Greece caused riots and conflicts. Eleftherios Venizelos, the famous Cretan politician, led the drive for union.
Finally, in 1913, Crete was annexed as part of Greece. More recently Crete was invaded by the Germans in 1941. Chania suffered severe bombardment in the opening stages of the Battle of Crete.
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DARATSO
The villages of Galatas and Daratso are located on the hills overlooking the beach of Kalamaki. These small villages have seen quite a development in tourism in the past few years and buildings now go all the way down to the coast. The lower parts are called Kato (low in Greek) Daratso and Kato Galatas.
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DRAMIA
Beach and sea. Fresh fish in tavernas. Spectacular mountain scenery nearby. Explore. Relax, swim, read, write or paint or just spend quality time with someone special. A favourite with Greek and foreign tourists.
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EXOPOLIS
On a hillside, Exopolis ,just 3 km away from the sandy beach of Georgioupolis offers a beautiful view to both sea and mountains of the area.
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FALASARNA
Extraordinary beach with shale-like rock platforms and some stretches of smooth gentle sand. When it is windy, Falasarna feels it, but this is a rarely-crowded and spacious beach area. Combining a few neat and appealing small modern hotels with some casual relics, a handful of separated beachfront cafes and tavernas. There are great fans of Falasarna as well as those who find it ill-defined, but well worth visiting as another open-space natural beach area unlike any other in Crete. A brief jaunt from Kissamos (Kastelli) and easy to visit from Chania.
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GALATAS
The villages of Galatas and Daratso are located on the hills overlooking the beach of Kalamaki. These small villages have seen quite a development in tourism in the past few years and buildings now go all the way down to the coast. The lower parts are called Kato (low in Greek) Daratso and Kato Galatas.
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GEORGIOUPOLIS
At the mouth of the Almiros river, swimming is protected by a breakwater and the place has a pleasant local feel. This is a "small" place with some charm and atmosphere, even though there are many hotels and places to stay. Much wildlife in the area (river and semi-wetland as neigbours). Turtles nest here and it is viewed by many visitors who return often, as a relatively unspoiled place. Your choice of base includes: Eliros Beach, Mare Monte, Pilot Beach, Georgioupolis Beach, Gorgonia and several more small hotels and pleasant apartment clusters.
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GERANI
A small village with a beautiful beach next to Platanias at a distance of about 14 Km west of Chania and 2 Km from Platanias. The beach (a long pebble one) gains every year the Blue Flag and is partly organised (not crowded) and provides all kind of facilities such as sundchairs, umbrellas, shower, W.C. and sea sports. The village offers basic facilities, a small variety of tavernas and mini-markets, butcher, baker, petrol station and there is a regular bus route to the town of Chania. The surrounding area villages worth a small walk. Enjoy the unspoiled Cretan nature and hospitality. Pano Gerani, Modi, Loutraki, Manoliopoulo are all within a distance no longer than 10 kilometers.
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KALAMAKI
Kalamaki is a congregation of newish buildings with a small sandy beach close to the road leading west out of Chania.
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KALIVES
The village of Kalives, 18 km outside Chaniais placed at the entrance of Souda Bay.The once poor farmers settlement became a rich village, the once quiet habitation a lively place, surrounded by vine and olivesfields.The most beautiful spot is the village square. Under the magical plane tree, young and old people meet in the cafe. Cretan and foreign visitors discovered the nice village with its sandy beaches - both sides of the village. As well as the small local shops there are now hotels, pensions and souvenirshops.
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KAMISIANA
The village of Kamisiana is a quite place with a beautiful beach. Here you can enjoy the life of a traditional Cretan village.You can also find traditional tavernas and restaurants, cafe and a super market.
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KATO STALOS
The coastal settlement Kato Stalos abstains 8 km from Chania. It has been developed at length coastal street and the last years Kato Stalos has developed in a tourist resort area of the northern side of Chania. It is located afterwards of Galatas and it allocates a beautiful and a very clean beach, main characteristic of which is the extensive sandy beach. The beach has been awarded with the Blue Flag of European Union and is distinguished for her very good organisation. In the region function a lot of hotels, rented rooms and apartments, restaurants, beach bars and commercial shops all kinds. In distance of 1,5 kilometre and 150 metres taller, is built the settlement Pano Stalos. It's a small traditional village that combines the natural beauty with the graphic sight. The green hills and the traditional architecture of the houses compose the uniqueness of place. Around the village function hotels and restaurants in which you will taste the Cretan recipes.
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KAVROS
Kavros is situated close to the lake of Kournas, the only sweet water lake in Crete, between Chania the principal Town in the western region and Rethymnon the third largest Town in Crete, only 45 km from Chania Town and Airport,100 km from Heraklion Town and Airport, and 18 km from Rethymno Town.
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KISSAMOS
The name Kissamos is of pre-hellenic origin and it was the name of an ancient community that existed in the same place. The ancient Kissamos was a marine and commercial center of the Western Crete, and it was the port of the ancient town of polyrenia. Later, when it was occupied by the Romans ,a new theater and Roman villas were built on top of the old town. The city continued to prosper during the early Byzantine period when it was an episcopical seat. The Venetians built the wall that parts of it are still standing inside the city. The Venetian fortress, Castelo, was the special characteristic of the city and thus the city was named after it Kasteli. Because in Crete there are many towns with the name Kasteli, it was named Kasteli Kissamou.
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KOLYMBARI
There are traces of Minoan settlements found in several places near Kolymbari, but no systematic excavation has been done yet. The Turks first landed on Crete here, in 1645, and started occupation of the island. The Greek Army landed here in 1897 to achieve Crete's union with Greece, and this was the reason for the start of the war in 1897 between Greece and Turkey. Kolymbari also has a large number of important churches and monasteries.
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KOURNAS
The village of Kournas is 43km from Chania and 20km from Rethimnon on a road turning south at 41km of the Chania - Rethimnon highway. Kournas Lake, old villages, Byzantine churches, a Minoan tomb and a cave are in the area around the village. In Patima (near Kournas) there is the church of Agios Theodoros which also has a fine, decorated tomb within the church. In Patima there are also the remains of Venetian buildings.
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LIVADIA
Quite simply, Livadia holidays are for those who really do want to get away from it all and stay in the simplest of villages. Livadia is a very small village on the western tip of Crete some 45 miles from Chania Town and 20 miles from Kissamos. A holiday in Livadia really is off the beaten track. The surrounding countryside is beautiful and the coastline a spectacular mix of rugged rocks, coves and unforgettable beaches. Livadia has a tiny harbour from where you could join local fisherman or hire a simple boat for fishing or exploring the many secluded beaches of this unspoilt and quiet region. Your holiday in Livadia will share just a few charming traditional tavernas with the friendly villagers.
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MALEME
A Minoan tholos tomb of the Postpalatial Period is on the same road before the cemetery. A small sign points towards the grave. It is about 100 metres east along the hills. The tomb is on the right of the path. It has an unusually long path leading to the rectangular chamber. The tomb had been robbed but excavations in 1966 revealed two seals.
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MILIA
Milia is located in a semi-mountainous region in the Prefecture of Chania, the closest village being Vlatos, about 4.5 kilometers away. It is built on a mountain slope which forms one side of a valley and is situated in an area unique for its expansive variety of plants and trees. The 120 hectares surrounding the settlement provide extraordinary peace and a harmonious setting.
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OMALOS
Omalos is a plateau with an altitude of 1080 meters, famous for its liberation struggles of the island. Samaria Gorge, which has the shape of an irregular circle, is surrounded by steep and aweinspiring mountains. The plateau due to its natural fortification, has always been a refuge during all the important revolutions of Crete. At the entrance of the plateau there are small stone houses occupied only during the summer months. On the south part of the plateau there is Xiloskalo, the starting point for the crossing of the Samaria Gorge.
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PALEOCHORA
Probably it has been built on the ruins of ancient kalamidi. In 1282 the Venetians built the historic Kastello Selino, formerly known as "Orina". The township we know as Paleochora was finally established at the end of 1800. The fortress, which dominates a small peninsula and commands a lovely view over the Libyan sea, was built and destroyed again and again by the Venetians, the Turks, Barbarossa's pirates and later by Cretan rebels and Germans during the Second World War. At the present Paleochora is a wonderful large village, with lots of tourists, because of the great beach and warm sea. There are many hotels, rooms for rent, taverns, bars, outdoor cinemas, doctor's office and a nudist beach on the East side.
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PLATANIAS
The village of Platanias has all kinds of tourist facilities: cafes, restaurants, hotels, shopping. A long, sandy beach extends for miles to the right and left of the town. Platanias has a small harbour for boat anchorage.
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RAPANIANA
Rapaniana belongs to the Municipality of Kolymbari, 20km west of Chania. It is situated 25 minutes away from the airport of Chania and 20 minutes away from the harbour of Souda.The location is ideal for those that wish to enjoy tranquil holidays by the sea.
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SFAKIA
The district of Sfakia is the largest one in the prefecture of Chania, but consisting in large part of mountains it is sparsely populated. Sfakia is famous throughout Greece as one of the most traditional regions of Crete and for its magnificent nature, contrasting the high mountains, the plateaux of Askifou and Anopolis as well as the wild scenic coast of the Libyan sea. The capital of the Sfakia region is the small village of Hora Sfakion (or Chora Sfakion). It has a population of less than 400.
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TERSANAS
Tersanas is just 10 minutes from the airport and close to two monasteries - Agia Triada and Moni Gouvernetou. This village combines incredible mountain, sea-views, and is only a six-minute walk from the crystal -clear waters of Tersanas beach and 2 km from the beautiful cove of Stavros, where Zorba the Greek danced.
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TZITZIFES
The church of Agios Georgios in Tzitzifes - Chania - Crete - Greece The village of Tzitzifes is situated in one of the most beautiful, green areas of Crete, called Apokoronas. Surrounded by wooded hills and picturesque places Cretan village life still goes on is a peaceful ambiance. Tzitzifes is 32 km from Hania and a ten-minute drive to the nearest beach, while a variety of other sandy beaches and fascinating villages are with in easy reach.
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VAMOS
The village due to its strategic position played a significant role to the history of Crete, especially during the Turkish occupation, when it was the seat of the Turkish commander. Several attempts have been made by he Cretan revolutionists to capture the village. After one of many battles in May 1896 the revolutionists finally achieved to take over the place. This fact had a great effect, even abroad and gave birth to the General Revolutionary Assembly of Cretan People for the independence of the island.
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VRISSES
Vrisses is 32km from Chania and 26km from Rethimnon along a south turn on the Chania - Rethimnon highway. In Vrises there is a Greco-Roman bridge.
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XAMOUDOHORI
Xamoudohori, with its idyllic tranquility and panoramic views, is a tiny village situated in green rolling hills above Maleme. The unspoilt landscape, whether you look towards the Kolymbari peninsula, Thodorou island and wide open sea or down to the olive clad surrounding valleys, is mesmerising as it reflects the light changes at various times of the day.
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