Excursions - Sightseeing

Excursions-Sightseeing

Excursions - SightseeingThe alternatives for a traveler who wants to see the landscapes and understand the ways of living in the prefecture of Hania, are literally endless. Here we will try to recommend a few excursions to sights worthwhile in a daily range.

 

 

Daily Excursions

Villages of Platanias
On the road to Deres Village
The Villages of the Municipality of Platanias. Every village is on its own a remarkable place to visit. A tour through more than one is a marvelous choice for a daily excursion.
All the villages are linked by the provincial road network, but are better appreciated by trekking.
The landscape that Hania has to offer, combined with the aspect of everyday authentic way of life of its provincial population with their traditional occupations and customs, is an experience that any visitor would cherish. In the pages of "Touring" you will find more information on all these villages.

Lake of Agias
The lake is located in the southeast end of the municipality of Platanias, at its borders with the municipality of Nea Kydonia.

Although it is a man-made lake, it has been transformed into a living, unique biotope with a great variety of flora and fauna. For this reason, the lake and the territory that surrounds it, following the current of the river Keritis towards the sea, are protected by the "NATURA 2000" program of the European Union. The lake itself, as well as the route alongside the riverbank of Keritis, is a wonderful naturalistic experience and most characteristic of the area.

Ancient Aptera

Aptera
Aptera
It is located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Hania and 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Platanias, on the national road Hania-Rethimno. Ancient Aptera is built on an open plateau 200 meters above sea level, with an extraordinary view of the bay of Souda. Its history begins in the Minoan era (3500-1070 B.C.), but the most visible ruins are those of the Geometrical era (1000-685 B.C.), Hellenistic era (323-67 B.C.) and the Roman era.

Fortifications, aqueducts, public baths, burial grounds etc. are only some of the remains that can still be seen today. At the village Megala Horafia or Aptera, adjoining the archeological site, you will be able to find food, refreshments and water.

Elafonisi-Hrisoskalitissa

Elafonisi
Elafonisi
At 80 km. (49 miles) or about 73 km. (45 miles) from Platanias, we will find Elafonisi. It is one of the most rare and beautiful landscapes in all Europe : an extensive beach of unique beauty that overlooks the Libyan sea and an island that you can even walk to! The water is not higher than an adult's knee! Here, amongst the rare vegetation, we can find a kind of cedar tree and sand lilies that grow nowhere else in Europe. An area of about 2,000 acres of the seaside is protected by "NATURA 2000". All facilities are pretty much underdeveloped (parasols and small canteens), so it would be a good idea to bring along supplies (mostly water) which you can buy from the villages you will meet on your way (Elos and Vathi).

Only 5 km. from Elafonisi, by a small detour, you can visit the historical monastery of Hrisoskalitissa. The monastery is open for the public, and the hospitable monks will be glad to guide you through the grounds. Here you will also find fresh running water.

Lake of Kourna

Kourna Lake
Kourna Lake
On the way to Rethimno via the national road, at the 45 th km. (28 th mile), there is a crossroad that leads inland to the village of Kourna (3 km. or 1,8 miles from the national road), next to the natural lake of Kourna. A small but unique lake in all of Crete, and also an important biotope. It is surrounded by impressive mountains and offers serenity as well as good food at the taverns that circle it. Here you can also rent sea bikes.

Aghios Nikolaos, Cave of Samona, Stylos
It is a route through some of the most authentic places in the prefecture of Hania. At 25 km. (15 miles) from Hania towards the Lefka Ori, we will find the village of Samona. Small and picturesque, it is a typical mountain village that lives on stock raising and olive cropping. Here we can find an impressive cave with stalactites and flowstones, that was accidentally discovered by some shepherds. Although not yet fully explored, it can be visited in its most part. In the village you can find taverns and cafeterias, as well as newly built facilities of agricultural tourism.

A little after Samona we will find the small village of Kiriakoselia and a little after that, in a small valley that follows, the church of Saint Nicolas. It is a Byzantine church, the oldest Christian temple in the prefecture of Hania. After recent reconstructive works on the church, an amazing collection of frescos has been discovered.

Ramni Stilos
Ramni Stilos
If you prefer, instead of returning from the same road you got here, to continue through areas of great natural beauty, away from urban and tourist centers, then you can choose to pass from picturesque mountain villages like Ramni, Maheri and then get to Stylos, 18 km (11 miles) from Hania and very near to the national road. Here you will find important archeological sights, ruins of the Minoan era, as well as the reconstructed church of "The Mother of God" of the 12 th century A.D. Even more, in the village you will see, packed by planes, gorgeous springs of crystal clear waters that flow here straight down from the Lefka Ori. In the village you will also find cafeterias, taverns and other shops.

Sfakia-Fragokastelo

Sfakia, Fragokastelo
Sfakia, Fragokastelo
About 74 km. (46 miles) from Hania, the village of Hora Sfakion is located. It is the capital of the district of Sfakia. Built on the edge of a steep hill, it overlooks the Libyan See. The area here gives a totally different perspective of Crete. The land is rough, arid and wild. It will not fail to move you in various ways for its uniqueness and authentic character. It is in total harmony with the character of its people, people that have never bowed to any conqueror. To get here, you pass through picturesque villages, plateaus, and by the impressive gorge of Imbros. At Hora you will find shops, banks, a police station, a surgery, accommodations, as well as beautiful coves for swimming... 11 km. (6,8 miles) east of Hora, dominating the surrounding area, is the Venetian castle of Fragokastelo. It was built in 1371 for protection from pirate attacks. At the foot of the castle, some of the beaches that have made the southern part of the prefecture of Hania so famous are located.

Gavdos
Gavdos
Gavdos In the heart of the Mediterranean, at the southmost peak of Crete, Greece and Europe itself, is an island so fabulous you cannot miss to visit. With very few inhabitants, rare landscape, incomparable seas, cedar trees, sun and light. Together with its neighboring uninhabited island Gavdopoula and due to their rare ecosystem, they have both been included in the pan-European nature protect program of NATURA 2000. The island is located at a distance of 24 nautical miles from Hora Sfakion, from where you can go to the island by boat. On Gavdos you will find a small number of accommodations and taverns; there are also areas fit for camping. Here the personal contact with nature and serenity is everything and prevails over any lack of comfort.

Archeological Sights

The prefecture of Hania is almost in its entire expanse full of ancient sights that cover a time period from the Minoan era to the early Christian times. Here is an account of the most important sights of cities and villages out of the city of Hania.

Aptera/Lissos/Polirinia/Eliros/Irtakina/Falasarna

Museums

Archeological Museum of Hania
It is in many ways almost an actual mirror of the long course of history of this land. It is sheltered in a building that is by itself a monument, the Monastery of the Franciscan Monks. The collection of the museum begins from the Neolithic era and ends in the Roman era. In other words, the collection covers a period from 6000 B.C. to 324 A.D.!

Chalidon 21 Street, Hania, visiting hours 8:30-15:00, except Mondays. Tel. 0030 28210 91875

Historical Archives of Crete
It is the greatest regional office of the General Archives of the Greek State. It hosts over 700,000 documents and small artifacts related to the history of Crete.

20 I. Sfakianaki 20 Str., Hania. Tel. 0030 28210 23082, http://gak.chan.sch.gr/history.

Visiting hours 9:00-13:00, except Saturday-Sunday.

Byzantine Collection of Hania
Sheltered at the beautifully preserved monastery of San Salvatore, it hosts an extremely interesting collection from the early Christian era up to the Turkish occupation.

82 Theotokopoulou Str., Old Harbor of Hania. Tel. 0030 28210 96046. Visiting hours 8:30-15:00

Nautical Museum
It is located in one of the buildings of the castle of Firka overlooking the Venetian harbor of Hania.

The nautical museum hosts scale models of ships, as well as pieces of them, instruments, devices, charts, paintings and other artifacts that represent the nautical tradition of Crete.

Akti Koundouriotou. Tel. 0030 28210 91875.

Visiting hours 9:00-16:00

War museum
Located in the old barracks of 1870 built by the famous Italian architect Macuzo, the museum hosts finds and relics from the participation of the Cretans in the Balkan Wars (1913-1921), the campaign in Minor Asia (1919-1922), the First and Second World Wars and the German occupation (1941-1945).

I. Sfakiakaki and Tzanaki Street. Tel. 0030 28210 44156.

Visiting hours 9:00-13:00, except Sundays and Mondays.

Folkloric Museum of Gavalohori Apokorona
Here you will find a collection of artifacts that imprint the way of living of the agricultural communities of Hania. Tel. 0030 28250 23222.

Visiting hours 9:00-20:00, Sat. 9:00-19:00, Sun. 10:00-13:00 and 17:00-20:00 (open only during the summer).

"Cretan House" Folkloric Museum
Chalidon 46b Street, Hania. Tel. 0030 28210 90816.

Visiting hours 9:00-15:00 and 18:00-21:00

Byzantine and Folkloric Museum of Spilias
Kissamos. Tel. 0030 28240 22080/22357.

Visiting hours 17:00-18:00, Sat. 11:00-12:00, only after communicating first with the above telephones.

House of Eleftherios Venizelos
The house where one of the most important Prime Ministers of Greece was born.

Tel. 0030 28210 93132/95250.

Churches & Monasteries

The Byzantine churches alone are over 300, while there is a great number of monasteries, museums with rare artifacts, wall paintings and relics. Here we note the most important:

Churches:

Monasteries:

At the first four monasteries, museums with rare artifacts operate. Open to the public.

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