Listed 16 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "VAMOS Municipality CHANIA" .
ALMYRIDA (Settlement) CHANIA
Almirida, a small fishing village, lies along the east of the Souda
Bay opposite the cape of Akrotiri, within 25 kilometers from the city of Hania.
The surrounding area, with picturesque villages, lovely beaches, and historical
sites consists one of the most worth to visit areas in the island of Crete. Kera,
Plaka, Kambia, and Kokkino Horio are some of the most renowned and unforgettable
places to the numerous friends of Almirida.
The area has been just developed the last eight years, in a way that
the traditional characteristics which attracts the most demanding guests, remained
unspoilt.
Historically, it introduces great interest. The whole area used to
be a colony of the ancient Foinikes, a place named Finika exists in the area,
while some ancient ruins and tombs of the time were unearthed there.
At the entrance of Almirida archaeologists discovered Mosaic and tombs
which belong to the Royal Church rhythm of the 5th century A.D. Here the last
battle between the Greek revolutionaries and the Turks in 1896 took place.
Sights
There are a lot of places of interest which guests can visit: like
the "Diktamo Gorge" and the "gorge of Saint Nikolas" and the 215 caves scattered
in the area.
In the bay of Almirida is the islet "Karga", ideal for a small sea
trip, fishing and relax, while some remnants of ancient walls as well as tunnel
from the second world war are worth to see. The islet is also a refuge for migratory
and endemic birds.
Kokkino Horio a village where the famous film "Zorbas", based on the
novel of Nikos Kazantzakis the Cretan writer, was filmed stands in a small distance
from Almirida.
Another point of attraction is the small factory which produces items
from "blown glass", located also at Kokkino Horio.
A little further from Plaka to the south is the picturesque village
"Kambia", with traditional houses, flowery yards and the small chapel of "Agos
Nikitas". A local festival is organized every year at September 15 to celebrate
the Saint's name day
At Kambia you will find an exhibition with the work of the well known
painter Santorinakis, who has a special technique of painting on mirrors.
Plaka is the biggest village in the area with 250 permanent inhabitants,
occupying mostly with farming, cattle breeding, fishing and lately with tourism.
The visitor can admire here a magical sunset, as well as many other
attractions like the natural sea caves (nerospilia), the old houses, the narrow
stone paved streets and will enjoy the July festival "Plakiana", in honour of
the Cretan lyra player Mihalis Papadakis, where many old local customs are brought
to life.
Almirida has been characterized (by the authorities) as a place of
great natural beauty, and thus all efforts are made to preserve the authenticity
of it.
The climate due to the ever present olive trees which go as far as
the beach, and the Lefka Ori mountain range is temperate considered to be one
of the healthiest in the whole world!
Facilities
Almirida has tourist accommodation of all types and class. Not large
hotel resorts but many small family operated and well looked after with friendly
and quiet environment, which however can provide all the modern facilities.
Fresh fish and lots of Cretan specialties are offered at the small
taverns located on the coastal street by the sea. There also many bars, cafes,
music clubs etc to offer the visitors unforgettable evenings.
For your shopping there are shops with traditional products and souvenirs
of a wide range, and of course many mini markets which remain open until late.
There is regular bus transportation service to the town of Hania and
the surrounding villages in 24 hour basis.
This text is cited September 2004 from the Interkriti URL below, which contains images.
KALAMITSI ALEXANDROU (Village) VAMOS
VAMOS (Village) CHANIA
The village due to its strategic position played a significant role to the history of Crete, especially during the Turkish occupation, when it was the seat of the Turkish commander. Several attempts have been made by he Cretan revolutionists to capture the village. After one of many battles in May 1896 the revolutionists finally achieved to take over the place. This fact had a great effect, even abroad and gave birth to the General Revolutionary Assembly of Cretan People for the independence of the island.
KAINO (Ancient city) VAMOS
Caeno (Kaino, Diod. v. 76), a city of Crete, which, according to the
legend of the purification of Apollo by Carmanor at Tarrha, is supposed to have
existed in the neighbourhood of that place and Elyrus. (Comp. Paus.) The Cretan
goddess Britomartis was the daughter of Zeus and Carma, granddaughter of Carmanor,
and was said to have been born at Caeno. (Diod. l. c.) Mr. Paslley (Trav. vol.
ii. p. 270) fixes the site either on the so-called refuge of the Hellenes, or
near Haghios Nikolaos, and supposes that Mt. Carma, mentioned by Pliny (xxi. 14),
was in the neighbourhood of this town. (Comp. Hoeck, Kreta, vol. i. p. 392.)
The municipality of Vamos, the capital town of which bears the same
name (communities of Vamos
and Douliana), consists
of the former districts of Gavalohori
(Gavalohori, Agios Pavlos, Koprana, Agios Vasilios), Plaka
(Plaka, Almirida, Kabia), Kokino
Horio, Kaina,
Kefala (Kefalas,
Paleloni, Drapanos), Xerosternio
(Xerosterni, Litsarda), Selia
(Selia, Souri, Likotinara), Kalamitsi
Alexandrou. It is a semi-mountainous area with interesting natural surroundings,
dominated by local woody (oak, holm-oak, cypress, wild almond, carob, laurel and
pear trees) or bushy (hairy thorny brooms, cretan sage, herbs etc.) flora and
architectural heritage. Small villages, most of which are old, are spread throughout
the area, which is characterised by a lack of water and limited agricultural productivity.
While this lack of resources resulted in a severe reduction of the population
it did not have any effect on the architectural character or the natural surroundings
of the region until recently. This is the main reason why a lot of foreigners
buy old houses or land and settle here. The biggest part of the steep, rocky coastline
has preserved its natural wild beauty and is proposed to become a protected area
under the Natura 2000 Environmental Management Program.
One can reach the sea from Kera and Almirida whereas Kokino Horio,
Kefalas and Likotinara provide steep access to the beach. Due to the reasons mentioned
above, the region is suitable for mild tourist development, which is evident in
Plaka and Almirida and subtle in Vamos, Gavalohori and other smaller villages
mainly from tourists visiting East Apokoronos. The recent establishment of a developmental
agency in Vamos with the aim of mild tourist development and the preservation
of local character creates guidelines for the development of the area and the
new municipality. The foundation of the Hania Environmental Education Centre at
the old school of Kefalas, by the county council is also along those lines for
local development, assuming that its operations are fairly and properly distributed
throughout the local villages.
The status of Gavalohori and surrounding villages as protected areas,
combined with the recent request to class Vamos as a traditional protected village,
are considered to be advantages of the region. The Ministry for the Environment,
Physical Planning and Public Works has characterised most other villages in the
area as important and interesting, however, their actual protection is the responsibility
of the new municipality.
This text is cited September 2004 from the Interkriti URL below.
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