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PALEOHORA Through the fascinating mountains of Southwestern Crete a relatively well-built road twists down to the south coast. On the rocky coast, situated on a south facing peninsula between the beautiful sandy and pebble beaches, Paleohora awaits its visitors. For Crete-maniacs and those who want to become one, the village with about 2.000 inhabitants offers tradition as well as a connection to the "modern world". The old port represents starting or ending point of a tour through the famous "Samaria Gorge" as well as a trip to Crete's "Caribbean beach" - "Elafonissos"with its rose colored sand. The ruins of the old Venetian castle is a witnesses of the former importance of the village as a point of defence. Apparently it was built on the ruins of the ancient city of Kalamidi. In 1278 the Venetian Duke Marino Gradenigo built the historical"Kastello Selino" at the top of a hill with a beautiful view to of the Libyan Sea. As a relict of the Venetian area nowadays it is called "Fortezza".In one of the numerous original Kafenions you can meet the old Cretans having coffee and their daily chat, a lot of tavernas offer visitors excellent cuisine, and various bars and two discotheques providean eventfull Nightlife. A few years ago a little known secret, the place has developed into a "cosmopolitan village". On the west side of the peninsula you will find the very long and wide sandy beach - the so called "Pachia Ammos", on the east side you can enjoy "Chalikia", the pebble beach of Paleohora, both graded of them with natural shade due to the tamarisk trees growing along the two beaches. These beaches are both blue by the European Community. The original and unspoiled nature also attracts people who like to walk and trek through out the surrounding mountains and into the lovely little villages nestling there - especially during springtime and autumn, when Crete expresses itself with a huge variety of beautiful colours and scents.  |
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