Chania History and Places
Kolymvari
From the Market House of Chania, if you take the road to Kissamos and at a short distance, you confront an endless sandy beach washed by the sea: At 4.5km, the sandy beach of Aghioi Apostoloi; At 5.5km, that of Galatas; At 8km, that of Stalos at Agia Marina; And at 11km, the beach of Platanias.
Going at the same road, you also find the military airfield (Maleme) known after the heroic Battle of Crete (May 1941).
Taking the seaside road, you reach Kolymbari (23.5km) an ideal spot for sunbathing. There are a lot of hotels and tavernas serving fresh seafood.
Rodopou
The entire eastern side of the peninsula Rodopou offers for swimming and fishing, the place can be reached by boat from Kolymvari. On the NE edge of the cape there are the ruins of ancient Diktynna in the visage of Mother Goddess, the Mistress of trees and mountains.
Kissamos
Proceeding from Kolymvari, you approach Kaloudiana (38.7km) and right after the Kissamos(or Castelli Kissamou) built at the location of the ancient homonyms town where there had also been the heaven of Polyrrinia (48.8km) When the area was captured by the Romans, a new town, with theaters and characteristic roman villas, was erected on the old one.
The town was subsequently and successively crossed by Arabs, Venetians who built a small castle (Castelli), a name that the minor town had maintained until 1969. After the small castle had been captured by the Turks, a new bigger castle was erected. Nowadays, Kissamos is the principal town of the province of Kissamou. Available in the area are hotels and small furnished rooms to rent. The communication of the town with Gythion is effected via Antikythera by a passenger-car ferry after a 6 hour trip.
Gramvoussa
In the month of August , in Kissamos, ‘ Gramvoussia’ takes place, a folkloric manifestation in remembrance of the Cretans heroism on the islet Gramvoussa.
The desert islet Gramvoussa is located north westerly of the far end of Crete at an altitude of 137m. A castle had been built on the islet by the Venetians around 1579. The islet became known as the ‘pirates’ island. Despite the fact that Chania had been captured by the Turks, the Venetians kept the castle for about 50 years. Eventually, the Turks captured it in 1692; In turn the Cretans conquered the castle in 1825. Thereafter, the island became the pirates hideout. The control piracy it took the intervention of Kapodistrias himself, in 1830 when the Greek flag waved on the castle. However, the Great Powers (England, France, Russia) by virtue of the protocol of London, ordered the Russian guards to surrender it, on 21-01-1831 back to the Turks.
A short excursion to the islet can be made by hiring a motorship from the port of Kissamos, of course, under favourable weather conditions.
Continuing the course by road, pass Kissamos, you approach the village Platanos (52.8km) and, after a distance of 8km, the village Sfinari, which is well-known for its sandy beach and the furnished room to rent.
Falasarna
Farther north-west, the road ends at Falasarna(58km), at a short distance from which there are the remains of the ancient heaven of Polyrrinia.
The visitor is impressed by the ‘stone throne’ that stands by the roadside and is believed to have been dedicated to Poseidon, since it had been a seamen’s town. Remains of the ancient heaven exist below the acropolis which stood on the top of the hillock, on the right of the small chapel.
Discriminating among the remains are the ruins of the emblematic walls that supported the various levels of the town. Moreover, there are remains of the foundations of houses and ruins of the temple of Artemis Diktinnis or of Apollo. The access to the town was affected from the sea side. It should be noted that the base of the ruins lies some 5 meters above sea level, however, this elevation of the West Cretan shores is due to tectonic earth tremors. The port is located at a distance of 100 m from the sea side.
On the way to Kissamos on the spot where Kaloudiana (38.7km) is located, we turn to the left and soon approach the village Potamida(40.8km) with olive tree plantations and large gardens with orange trees and other all green trees.
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