Listed 40 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "SFAKIA Province CHANIA" .
AGIA ROUMELI (Village) SFAKIA
Agia Roumeli is the small coastal village that you reach after walking
through the Samaria Gorge. A frequent boat service takes you directly to Loutro
and Hora Sfakion. Agia Roumeli has various hotels, rooms, and tavernas. In May
1941, the Greek government of Emmanuel Tsouderos and King George left Greece from
here when Crete fell to the Nazis. Agia Roumeli was destroyed by the Turks in
1867 after the battle of Aradena. However, the Turkish did not manage to penetrate
the defence of the canyon where all the women and children were protected. The
same had happened in 1866. The ancient Greek site of Tara, is on the left (east)
hill as you exit the gorge. Many of the finds from Tara are in the Archaeological
Museum of Chania. Tara flourished in Greek, Roman and Byzantine times. It was
an independent city and it had a glass producing factory. In Agia Roumeli are
the Byzantine churches of the Panagia, Agia Triada, and Agios Pavlos, a Turkish
castle, and a beautiful beach.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
AGIOS IOANNIS (Village) SFAKIA
Beyond Aradena the unpaved road continues west towards the small community
of Agios Ioannis. Agios Ioannis is 14km from Hora Sfakion on the Hora Sfakion
- Anopolis - Agios Ioannis road. The village of Agios Ioannis followed the fortune
of Anopolis and Aradena and it was destroyed in 1770 and 1867. From here some
of the families of the fighters managed to escape into the Lefka Ori and to the
safety of the Samaria Gorge. In 1823 thirty-two local rebels blocked the exit
of Agios Ioannis to the Samaria Gorge from the pursuing Egyptian troops which
were co-operating with the Turks. They faced a large army and all thirty-two were
killed, but they gave enough time to the women and children of the villages nearby
to escape to the protection of Samaria.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains image.
It is also possible to climb Mount Pahnes, the highest peak of the
Lefka Ori (2,452m) from here.
ANOPOLI (Village) SFAKIA
From Hora Sfakion an impressive ascent of 12km climbs to the plateau
of Anopolis, which is 600 metres above sea level. There is a bus from Hora Sfakion
late in the afternoon, returning in the morning. The village of Anopolis had many
inhabitants at one time but now the population is only about 800. Their main occupation
is agriculture and goats and sheep are raised on the plateau and the nearby mountains.
Anopolis is a very old place evident from traces of remains from the ancient Greek
eras that have been found. There are remains of cyclopean walls near Agia Ekaterini
Church. Anopolis had many inhabitants and its harbour was located in what is now
Loutro. It flourished mainly in the Roman and the Venetian Periods.
Anopolis was a revolutionary centre against the Venetians and was destroyed in
1365. Anopolis, and the province of Sfakia in general, was the centre of revolutions
against the Turks in Crete and was never inhabited by the Turks, making it the
only free place in Crete during the Turkish occupation. Anopolis is known today
for the hiking paths to the Lefka Ori and the aerial views of the south coast
of Crete from Agia Ekaterini and the site of ancient Anopolis.
This extract is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains imageσ.
ANOPOLIS (Ancient city) SFAKIA
Anopoli is a very old place evident from traces of remains from the ancient Greek eras that have been found. There are remains of cyclopean walls near Agia Aikaterini Church. Anopoli had many inhabitants and its harbour was located in what is now Loutro. It flourished mainly in the Roman and the Venetian Periods.
ARADENA (Settlement) SFAKIA
Aradena is 19km from Hora Sfakion on the Hora Sfakion - Anopolis -
Agios Ioannis road. After Anopolis the road becomes a dirt road, but it is easily
accessible. You will cross the gorge of Aradena over a wooden-planked bridge.
In the area, there is the abandoned village of Aradena, the Byzantine church of
Michael Archangelos, and the Aradena Gorge.
The abandoned village of Aradena is on the other side of the bridge. Aradena is
the site of the ancient Greek city, Aradin. It flourished during Roman, Byzantine
and Venetian times. Its inhabitants were once concerned with shipping, and Aradin
followed the fate of Anopolis and was destroyed in 1770 and in 1867 by the Turks.
The village has been abandoned; however, it is interesting to walk along the narrow
paths among the houses of the old village to see traditional village architecture.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
FRANGOKASTELLO (Castle) SFAKIA
Frangokastello is 14km east of Hora Sfakion, on a large, bare, coastal
plain. The area of Frangokastello has a Venetian fort, a Byzantine church, and
a fine beach.
KOMITADES (Village) SFAKIA
Komitades is on the road east from Hora Sfakion towards Frangokastello.
It is about 4km from Hora Sfakion and 69km from Chania. It has two churches of
interest.
LEFKA ORI (Mountain) CHANIA
These mountains have many gorges and canyons for the nature enthusiast.
Sfakia has the highest peaks of the White Mountains: Pahnes (2450m), Kastro
(2218m), and Troharis (2409m). This wild terrain is one of the most impressive
in Crete.
The views of the White Mountains from Apokoronas are especially interesting
during the winter and spring when they are completely covered by snow. They
are truly the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) then. The ravines and gorges through
Samaria, Aradena, Imbros, and Kalikratis are excellent hiking opportunities.
The mountain hike to the refuge and plateau at Niatos 1500 metres above Askifou
may interest the visitor or the refuge above Omalos at Kalergis. The White Mountains
have more than 40 peaks above 2000 metres, offering very good hiking.
From the plateau of Anopolis one has an exceptional view of the south side of
the Lefka Ori. Climbs of the highest peaks of the Lefka Ori, at 2,500 metres,
start from here. The view of the mountains is particularly impressive in the
spring when they are covered in snow. The area is protected from the north winds
and it has very mild weather all winter. This area of the Lefka Ori is also
famous for its rare wild flowers that can be seen in the spring.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
LOUTRO (Port) CHANIA
This village may be reached by boat from Hora Sfakion and Agia Roumeli
or by foot from Anopolis, Hora Sfakion, and Agia Roumeli. The footpaths appear
deceptively short, especially in the heat of the summer. In addition, they may
also be dangerous for inexperienced hikers. The boat trip from Hora Sfakion takes
about 20 minutes. Picturesque Loutro has a very inviting hotel, rooms for rent,
and tavernas of good quality. Because there are no cars, Loutro is a good place
to enjoy the relative peace and quiet. Loutro is the site of the Doric city of
Finix. In the area there are remains of Byzantine churches, and Venetian and Turkish
castles. In Loutro there are local fishermen who will ferry people to and from
the beach of Marmara, which is near the exit of the Aradena Gorge.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
SFAKIA (Village) CHANIA
Hora Sfakion is 72km from Chania on the Chania - Vrises - Hora Sfakion
road, and 63km from Rethimnon on the Rethimnon - Armeni - Agios Vasilios - Rodakino
- Sfakia road. Nowadays, Hora Sfakion is best known as the last stage of the excursion
from the Samaria Gorge. Each year thousands of tourists arrive by boat from Agia
Roumeli and enjoy a meal in one of the many pleasant restaurants before leaving
by bus for Chania, Rethimnon or Iraklion. For those wishing to enjoy southern
Crete longer, there are many hotels in the village.
Hora Sfakion is a small village in a cove between the mountains where the terrain
is wild and harsh with the Lefka Ori towering behind.
After the loss of the Battle of Crete in 1941, 12,000 Allied troops evacuated
the island through Hora Sfakion, after walking from north Crete through the Imbros
Gorge; a plaque on the waterfront commemorates this event.
There are a number of excursions from Hora Sfakion: to Frangokastello, Anopolis
and Aradena. Besides daily boats to Loutro, Agia Roumeli, Sougia, and Paleohora,
there is a boat once a week to Gavdos.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
AGIA ROUMELI (Village) SFAKIA
SFAKIA (Province) CHANIA
Sfakia, in the southwest of Crete, is the famous and most authentic
region of Crete. Here you can find the last pieces of the old Cretan culture and
nature, far away from mass tourism. Whether you are looking for the nice and quiet,
on the natural beaches, or want to be active, with mountain hiking, swimming,
diving and fishing: this is the place! By the way, did you know Sfakia is Europe's
southernmost part?
Nowadays Crete's main businesses are olive oil, wine and tourism.
The latter is mainly centered along the North coast. The South West is sheltered
from the masses by huge mountain ranges of over 2500 metres high. Only a few roads
go south. There you arrive in a better climate region, even better than the Mediterranean
climate! Since the mountains appear to sink directly in the sea, only small locations
are suitable for villages. This scales down the possibilities for holiday resorts.
Since Sfakia is quite remote, also the culture of their inhabitants is less business
focused. Hospitality is still an art over here, with good tavernas, fresh fish
and meat and very fair prices. The drinking water is mineral water from wells
deep into the mountains. The natural beaches are wells of mountain rivers, with
sweet water mixing with the sea. The best and most clear swimming water is here.
The hills and mountains are crossed by huge gorges; Sfakia's Samaria
gorge is the biggest of Europe, but there are many more and all can be walked
fairly easily. A ferry is connecting the villages along the South West coast;
there is no noisy ongoing road. Directly from your hotel in Chora Sfakion, the
small capital of Sfakia, you can start your daily programme: the beaches are only
25 meters away, more than 20 hiking routes start from here, all ferries come to
Chora Sfakion and there is a good bus connection to the East and the North, by
2 renovated lane streets. You can also rent a car to explore the region, with
its many small traditional villages
In the evenings you have a choice of fine restaurants and tavernas,
with local dishes of fresh fish, lobster, lam and goat or more international dishes.
The Cretan wine is excellent and so is the olive oil and the Raki or Tsikoudia,
as they call it: a tasty spirit made from the remains of the wine production.
The Sfakians like to join you at your table and tell their stories or listen to
yours. For disco and night clubs you have chosen the wrong place.
When you arrive by plane on Crete, you have the choice of 2 airports:
Heraklion and Chania. If you have the chance, take Chania. This one is far more
close to Sfakia, but even more important: it's small and quiet; check out is very
quick and outside you can take the local bus, a pre-ordered taxi from Sfakia or
rent a car. A one-and-a half hour's drive through the impressive White Mountains
range down south brings you to paradise!
This extract is cited October 2004 from the URL listed below,
which contains images
ARADIN (Ancient city) SFAKIA
(Eth. Aradenios). A city of Crete, formerly called Anopolis. In Kiepert's map
it appears on the SW. coast of the island, near the Phoenix Portus. Remains of
ancient walls are found at the modern Anopolis.
LEFKA ORI (Mountain) CHANIA
Leuci Montes or Albi Montes (ta Leuka ore, Strab. x. p. 479; Ptol.
iii. 17. § 9), the snow-clad summits which form the W. part of the mountain range
of Crete. Strabo (l. c.) asserts that the highest points are not inferior in elevation
to Taygetus, and that the extent of the range is 300 stadia. (Comp. Theophrast.
H. P. iii. 11, iv. 1; Plin. xvi. 33; Callim. Hymn. Dian. 40.) The bold and beautiful
outline of the White Mountains is still called by its ancient title in modern
Greek, ta aspra bouna, or, from the inhabitants, ta Sphakiana bouna. Crete is
the only part of Greece in which the word ore is still in common use, denoting
the loftier parts of any high mountains. Trees grow on all these rocky mountains,
except on quite the extreme summits. The commonest tree is the prinos or ilex.
(Pashley, Trav. vol. i. p. 31, vol. ii. p. 190; Hock, Kreta, vol. i. p. 19.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
PIKILASSOS (Ancient city) SFAKIA
Poecilasium, Poecilassus (Poikilasion, Ptol. iii. 15. § 3; Poikilassos,
Stadiasm. Magni Mar. p. 299, ed. Hoffmann), a town on the S. coast of Crete, placed
by Ptolemy E. of Tarrha, between this place and the promontory Hermaea; but in
the Stadiasmus W. of Tarrha, between this place and Syia, 60 stadia from the former
and 50 from the latter. It is probably represented by the ruins near Trypete,
situated between the places mentioned ill the Stadiasmus. (Pashley, Crete, vol.
ii. p. 264.)
TARRA (Ancient city) SFAKIA
Tarrhos. A town on the SW. coast of Crete between Phoenice and Poecilassus,
one of the earliest sites of the Apollo-worship, and the native country of the
writer Lucillus. For Tarba (Tarba, Ptol. iii. 17. § 3) Meursius proposes to read
Tarrha There can be little or no doubt that its position should be fixed on the
SW. coast of the island, at the very entrance of the glen of Haghia Rumeli, where
the bold hanging mountains hem in the rocky bed of the river. (Pashley, Travels,
vol. ii. p. 270). The Florentine traveller Buondelmonti, who visited Crete A.D.
1415, describes considerable remains of a temple and other buildings as existing
on the site of the ancient city. (ap. Cornelius, Creta Sacra, vol. i. p. 85).
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ARADIN (Ancient city) SFAKIA
Phoenix: city on the S coast of W Crete, near Loutro, Sphakia district,
9.6 km E of Tarrha and 4.8 km W of Chora Sphakion; it was the port of inland Anopolis
and also of later Aradena. [...] Hierokles (651.1) mentions Phoinike with Aradena,
and the two sites are linked in one see in the early 9th c. Notitiae (8.230; 9.139).
D. J. Blackman, ed.
This extract is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Sep 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
FINIKOUS (Ancient city) SFAKIA
Phoinix. City on the S coast of W Crete, near Loutro, Sphakia district, 9.6
km E of Tarrha and 4.8 km W of Chora Sphakion; it was the port of inland Anopolis
and also of later Aradena. The name is probably connected, not with the Phoenicians,
but with the palm trees common on this coast. On Paul's voyage to Rome (A.D. 60)
the majority wished to winter at Phoinix. Ptolemy lists a city called Phoinix
on this coast, and a harbor called Phoinikous (3.15.3: probably the city near
Loutro and Phoinika Bay to the W); the Stadiasmus (328-29) says Phoinix has a
harbor and an island (the offshore rock Loutronisi?); Steph. Byz. lists a Cretan
city called Phoinikous. Hierokles (651.1) mentions Phoinike with Aradena, and
the two sites are linked in one see in the early 9th c. Notitiae (8.230; 9.139).
The site may have been unoccupied from the Arab conquest until the Venetian period.
A dedication to Iuppiter Sol Optimus Maximus Sarapis, of the Trajanic period,
was found here. Cape Plaka, to the W, is probably Ptolemy's Cape Hermes (3.15.3),
where a sanctuary of Hermes is likely.
Loutro was identified as Phoinix in the 15th c. The site is on a
narrow enclosed bay on the E side of Cape Mouri, the best all-season harbor on
the S coast of Crete. The city's prosperity must have depended almost entirely
on maritime trade; its disadvantages were the small size of the harbor, the lack
of good spring water, and the difficulty of inland communications. There were
many remains in the 15th c., but those now visible are on the peninsula between
Loutro and Phoinika Bay W of the promontory, and mainly on the plateau W of the
Turkish fort: a vaulted cistern, tombs, terrace walls, and house foundations of
the Roman and First Byzantine periods. Coarse Minoan sherds found S of the fort
attest a prehistoric settlement. The coast seems to have risen some 4 m since
antiquity.
A second city named Phoinix probably existed on the same coast some
distance to the E, at Phoinikias near Sellia, in the Agios Vasileios district.
This would have been the Phoinix in the territory of Lappa attested by Strabo
(10.475).
D. J. Blackman, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Sep 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
PIKILASSOS (Ancient city) SFAKIA
Poikilasion. Small city in the Sphakia district on the S coast of W Crete, E of
Syia and W of Tarrha. On a small bay cut off from the interior by the White Mountains,
it is barely accessible except by sea and has little agricultural land. Little
is known of its history; in the 3d c. B.C. it was a member of the league of Oreioi,
and its gods are mentioned in the league's treaty with Magas of Kyrene (see Lisos).
It is mentioned only by Ptolemy (3.15.3: site wrongly placed E of Tarrha) and
a coastal pilot (Stadiasmus 330: Poikilassos, a city with an anchorage and water).
No coins can definitely be ascribed to it, and it may never have been an independent
city. A Temple of Serapis was consecrated or reconsecrated in the 3d c. A.D.
A few remains of houses survive on ancient terraces on the inland
side of the valley at the mouth of the Tripiti gorge, about 1.6 km from the sea;
there is now no safe anchorage, but if the relative sea level was some 6 m higher
in antiquity there would have been at least a sheltered creek at the river mouth.
D. J. Blackman, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
TARRA (Ancient city) SFAKIA
Tarrha. City in the Sphakia district on the S coast of W Crete, near modern
Ag. Roumeli, at the mouth of the Samaria Gorge. It is first mentioned by Theophrastos
(Hist.Pl. 2.2.2). In the early 3d c. B.C. it had a coinage alliance with neighboring
Lisos, Elyros, and Hyrtakina, and may have been a member of the league of Oreioi;
it was certainly in the Cretan League in the early 2d c. It was best known as
the legendary home of the seer Karmanor (Plaus. 2.7.7; 2.30.3; 10.7.2; 10.16.5)
and for its oracle and Sanctuary of Apollo Tarrhaios (Steph. Byz. s.v. Tarrha).
It is mentioned by Ptolemy (3.15.3: wrongly listed W of Poikilasion) and the Stadiasmus
(329-30: a small city with an anchorage).
Ancient remains attest occupation from the 5th c. B.C. to the 4th
or 5th c. A.D. Tarrha was then apparently abandoned, probably because of pirate
raids and consequent decline in communications by sea. The remains were described
in the 15th c. and identified in the 19th, though epigraphic confirmation is not
available. Remains W of the river bed include architectural members from a temple
(probably that of Apollo Tarnhaios) reused in a later building over whose ruins
now stands the chapel of the Panagia; below the building is a 1st c. B.C. mosaic,
perhaps connected with the sanctuary. Farther W lay a cemetery. To the E of the
riven are remains of Roman fortification walls and buildings, a few still standing
to some height on the hill below the cliffs in back of the site. Excavation of
some of these buildings revealed Greek walls at a considerable depth below them,
and some tombs of the 5th-4th c. B.C. and of the Roman period.
The factory indicated by abundant glass fragments has not been found,
but it remains likely that one existed here or nearby. The coast appears to have
been lifted some 3.6 m since ancient times, so that the bay is now open and exposed,
but the harbor may once have been better. Minoan occupation of the site is possible,
if only for export of cypresses from the White Mountains; no certain Minoan finds
are known, but some LM III vases may come from here rather than from near Sphakia.
D. J. Blackman, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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