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Paleochora in Crete
Hotels and apartments
Situted on the south western coast of Crete, the former
fishing village of Paleochora, sits on a small peninsula jutting into
the vast blue expanses of sea and behind is surrounded by a lush green
landscape with oleanders and olive trees.
The mountains of Sfakia form a dramatic rugged backdrop
and to the west there is a wonderful sandy beach, which is several
kilometers long. The small seaside town has a large selection of tavernas,
shops and cafes, and on a summer’s evening the bustling streets
become a much loved strolling and meeting point.
The area is ideal for beach lovers, or for walkers
eager to explore the south west coast and the surrounding mountains.
From Paleochora, boats ply back and forth along the coast, stopping
at a number of villages on the way to Chora Sfakion.
It is also possible to take boat trips to see Dolphins
as well as the remote island of Gavdos, which is the most southerly
point of Europe.
Hotels & apartments in Paleochora
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| E-mail: info@alpha-omegaonline.com |
| Tel/fax: +33(0)4 92 15 14 62 --- Mobile: +33 (0)6 08 10 00 85 |
| Address in France: 20, Boulevard Joseph Garnier
F-06000 Nice |
| Address in Greece: Astrikas - Chania - Crete |
Samaria gorge. Crete, Greece
Having a total length of sixteen kilometres, this gorge is the largest in Europe and certainly the most famous and visited among the many gorges of Crete.
Until about the middle of the century it was a wild landscape with a totally undisturbed ecosystem and home to a great number of wild birds and mammals as well as to a small population of woodcutters and shepherds who lived in Agia Roumeli or in the village of Samaria inside the gorge.
Today this village has been abandoned, but the steep slopes of the gorge and the thick forests in the surrounding area are still populated with many rare species. These include over fifty species of wild birds - among them, the extremely rare harrier eagle (Gypaetus barbatus) and golden eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos), both threatened with extinction - and about ten species of mammals among which the famous Cretan wild goat otherwise known as kri kri and the Cretan polecat known as zourìdha. As for the flora of the area, it is abundantly rich and includes many wild flowers native to this land.
In 1962, the gorge, together with a small area to the west and east of it, was officially declared a National Park, so that its delicate ecosystem could be protected.
The park extends over an area of 5100 hectares and, unlikeits quiet days in the past, today it is visited by some 300,000 people a year, all of them determined to walk the gorge. Visits are allowed between May and October, but in July and August the tourists are so many that it is impossible to be alone even for a minute. On the other hand, if you can come between May and early June, or between the middle of September and the end of October, you will certainly enjoy it a lot more.
A good time to visit the gorge (in fact, a time before it is officially opened to the public) is the first weekend of April, when a two-day festival is held in Samaria in honour of Osia Maria. The liturgy in the small Byzantine church is chanted by father Giorgis Chiotakis of Sfakia, an amazing priest who likes a good feast as much as anyone else and yet is a truly holy man.
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