2016
ANEKORAMA |
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Tα Δώματα. / Domata.
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H παραλία της Τρυπητής στην
έξοδο του φαραγγιού. / Tripiti beach
at the gorge’s exit.
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Σήμανση στα
βράχια. / Marks on the rocks.
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Τα υπέροχα νερά στα Μάρμαρα. /
The enchanting waters of Marmara.
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Η Αγία Ρουμέλη με φόντο το
φαράγγι της Σαμαριάς . / Agia
Roumeli with Samaria Gorge in the
background.
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Το τούρκικο κάστρο
στην Αγία Ρουμέλη. / The Turkish fort
in Agia Roumeli.
ters, tamarisk clusters, and shady trees),
and another, eastward, Chalikia, drier,
with pebbles and rocks. More eastward,
4 km far from Paleochora, the secluded
beaches of Gialiskari are very popular.
Back in the 70’s, the region was adored by
the hippies who used to come and camp
here. Today, it is preferred by nudists.
In the west, there are several coves with
pebbles or rocks and calm waters (Kala-
mia, Psilos Volakas, Trochalou, and Plaka-
ki). Karavopetra with an out-of-this-world
rock reminding of a stone ship, in the mid-
dle of the beach, is very clean and ideal for
swimmers, but it is unorganized, and has
no natural shade. Grammenos Peninsula,
west of Plakaki, has 2-3 wonderful bea-
ches. Alonaki has umbrellas and tamarisks,
whereas the sandy cove “stou Houma” is a
secret paradise hidden among rocks and
cedar trees.
If you come here, go up Castello Seli-
no, the ruined Venetian “Fortezza”, in
the afternoon, to see the sun “dive” in the
Libyan Sea.
and famous arms manufacturers. Lissos,
3 km to the west, probably is the island’s
best hidden “secret”. The beach, in a val-
ley full of trees, is unorganized, and open to
southwinds, but the site is important since
ancient Lissos was famous for its Asklepie-
ion (healing temple) andmedicinal springs,
an important healing center. Important ar-
chaeological findings were discovered in
the settlement, and they are exhibited in
the Archaeological Museumof Chania, but
the remains of themosaic floors of the Ask-
lepieion, various pillars and inscriptions
can still be seen. Lissos can be reached by
the sea from Sougia, or on foot through
Selino Gorge (one and a half totwo hours
trekking), on European path E4.
Paleochora
Built on two bays, Paleochora is the bu-
siest organized “tourist” summer resort of
southwest Crete, with modern hotels, in-
numerable rooms-to-rent and camping,
vivid nightlife, sea sports, and two orga-
nized beaches: one, westward, calledPachia
Ammos (1 kmof sandy beach, shallowwa-
Στην παραδεισένια παραλία
Δώματα, με το ψιλό βότσαλο
και τα βαθιά γαλανά νερά θα
νιώσετε μόνοι στο Σύμπαν.
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ture, with all the assets of a small, well
organized community for tourists: small
hotels and studios-to-rent (for privileged
accommodation on the beach, check San-
ta Irene, standing only 10 m far from the
sea), cafés, mini markets, restaurants and
taverns (don’t forget to try the famous
“kontosouvli” by Polyfimos in his beauti-
ful garden with multicolored flowers and
impressive tamarisks), bars for night life
– but no drugstore, or gas station.
Sougia’s best asset is its beach: thick
sand, clear deep waters, vast, 1.5 km long,
with a small cove at the east side, hidden
by rocks. This section is almost exclusive-
ly preferred by nudists but, in any part of
it, you will feel that you are alone on the
earth. In front of the village, there are um-
brellas, showers, and sun-loungers.
Go to themagnificent gorge of Agia Irini
for a walk and see the oak tree forests. In
the past, the locals bred pigs here and fed
themwith the oak apples of the region. Vi-
sit the ruins of Doric city, Elyros, onKefala
Hill, which was a large cityduring the clas-
sic era (500-350 B.C.), with its own coins,
