Paleochora is located in the province of Selino, 75 kilometers from Chania on the southwest of the island Crete. A very small peninsula proudly called the «Bride of the Libyan Sea» by the villagers.
According to reports, Paleochora was built on the ruins of ancient Kalamidis. In 1280 the Venetian Duke of Crete, Marino Gradenigo first built the «Castelo Selino» on a height with magnificent view of the Libyan sea, today known as «Fortezza» . From this point you can enjoy the magnificent view of the town and a breathtaking sunset at the end of the day.
Paleochora Paleochora, which has a population of approximately 2500 inhabitants, has developed into a popular tourist center offering visitors all they need. There are beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, archaeological sights and amazing landscapes, not forgetting the picturesque streets of Paleochora. A large number of studios and apartments are available for rent at very reasonable prices. All amenities are available, banks, post office, super markets, bus station, telecommunications office, health centre, private doctors, dentists, paediatricians, drug stores, police station, and coast guard.
Paleochora At whichever point of the village you find your self in, you will be able to walk to a beach. To the west there is the famous sandy beach «Pachia Ammos» and to the east the beautiful «Halikia» beach. Apart from these beaches which you can reach on foot from the centre of Paleochora, you can also visit beaches with your own transportation. Beaches like Gianiskari, and along the road which leads to Koundoura you can also find the popular beaches, Psilos Volakas, Karavopetra, Plakaki, Grammeno and Krios.
Close by there areas of exceptional natural beauty and environmental value which you can visit, such as the Gorge of Samaria, the Gorge of Agia Irini, and the small Gorge of Anydri-Gianiskari. Other beautiful areas are, the Island of Gavdos, the beach at Elafonisi, the district of Koundoura, and picturesque villages inland like Voutas, Anydri and Azogyres.
Beach Pachia Ammos Beach Halikia Beach Gianiskari Paleochora Sunshine
Paleochora Daily Ferries You can also see archaeological sights on the way to Paleochora like the ancient Byzantine churches of Kantanos and Plemeniana, villages like Asfentiles, Prodromi and Spaniakos. Also very interesting is the Monastery of Chrysoskalitissa near Elafonisi and the archeological sites of Lissos and Kadros.
Daily ferries connect Paleochora with Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Hora Sfakion, Elafonisi and there are regular ferry trips to Gavdos. In the evening roads of Paleochora are closed to the vehicles, to provide people with a place to walk, buy, eat and enjoy the exceptional night life of the town.
Paleochora is a place that you will never forget. Enjoy the sun, the sea, the great Cretan food and the warm hospitality of the people.
Museums - Culture
There is the Acrites Museum which was founded within Acrinet European framework by the folklore centre of Athens Academy. The head of the centre, Ms Aikaterini Polimerou-Kamilaki, says that Pelekanos municipality was chosen for the foundation of the museum because they still preserve the legends of the acrites and Digenis Acritas achievements through songs and places’ names, as well as the wonderful frescoes of St George, St Dimitrios and St Theodoros in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches of the area.
Beaches
Gianiskari Beach
Karavopetra Beach
Elafonisos Beach
Psilos Volakas
Grammeno
Plakaki
Krios
There are many beautiful beaches along the 18-kilometre coast of Paleohora.
On the east part of the coast there is Gianiskari area which consists of three different beaches. The one is sandy and the other two are pebble. For the next 3 kilometres there are only beaches with pebbles, rocks and caves until you reach Halikia beach which has been awarded a Blue Flag.On the west, the coast starts with Pachia Ammos beach which has also been awarded a Blue Flag. Then there are Trahalos, Psilos Volakas, Karavopetra, Plakaki, Grammeno, Krios and Elafonisi beaches.
Gorges
Samaria Gorge
Agia Irini Gorge
Anidri Gorge
Samaria gorge, the longest in Europe, is 18 kilometres long surrounded by mountains of 2000-2500m in height. It takes about 6 hours to cross and its narrowest part is 3 metres. It starts from Omalos tableland and ends to Agia Roumeli village. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the wild nature of the gorge with the rare herbs and flowers. You may also spot some Cretan wild goats on the rocks. You will pass through the ‘doors’ of the gorge and arrive at the spotlessly clean, black sanded beach of Agia Roumeli.
Agia Irini gorge starts from Agia Irini village and ends in Sougia. Before you reach the crossroad leading to Leivadas, there are 13 caves in the gorge. Some of them are Nerotripa, Kokkini Spilia, Ellinikon, Spiles, Skotino and Harakas.
Anidri gorge is the closest one to Paleohora. It is evergreen containing local Cretan herbs such as diktamo and faskomilo as well as oregano, mint, thyme and a wide variety of wild flowers and plants. It starts from Azogires and ends to the sea.
Kalogirou gorge starts from Aligous and ends to Sasalo.
Topoliano gorge is along the road leading from Kissamos to Paleohora.
Churches
Church of Paleochora
The main church of the area is 100-year-old St Mary’s Cathedral. It is said that while the church was burning, its dome fell from a height of 14 metres and remained intact. There are also the churches of St George, St Paraskevi, St John the Babtist, St John the Chrysostom, St Antonios, the Holy Trinity and the Ascension of Christ.
Ancient cities
Lissos
Lissos: ruins and domed arched buildings, a small ancient theatre, ancient baths, and the Doric temple of Asklipios containing mosaics of the 4th century BC.
Eliros: situated in Rodovani village.
Irtakina: built beside a castle just above Platania village.
Kadros: flourished in the 1st century AC.
Suia: the harbour of Eliros and Irtakina.
Pelkis: from which Pelekanos municipality took its name.
Kalamidi: Paleohora is built on its ruins.
Biena: on the west of Koudoura.
Pikilassos: close to Sougia.
Caves
The caves of the area are: Zoures in Azogires, Ligias, Sapouna in Rodovani village, Xotospiliaro, Nerospilie and Thafto in Koustogerako village, Dissea’s, Halaro and Stalihtra in Temenia village, Bitoro’s and Sfadahtospilio in Kabanos village as well as 13 caves in Agia Irini gorge.
Paleochora's economy is based on tourism and agriculture (mainly tomatoes cultivated in glass houses and also olive oil). It is a relaxing holiday destination since the early 1970s when it was popular with hippies.
Paleochora has crystal clear waters, well organised beaches, and beautiful isolated small anchorages. It is served by numerous hotels, restaurants, tavernas, cafés, and bars. Facilities in Paleochora include bank branches, a post office, a central telephone office, a health centre, doctor's offices, dentists, chemists, a police station, a coast guard and customs office, and many types of stores. Ferry boats connect Paleochora with Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Chora Sfakion, and Gavdos.
Local attractions include the abundant wild flowers in the spring, the opportunity to see Venetian and Byzantine wall paintings in some of the local churches (those in Anidri and Voutas being particularly impressive), and a museum dedicated to the Acretans in the town itself. The nearby village of Azogires, 5 km away, contains a museum dedicated to the area as well as the, now empty, Monastery of the 99 Holy Fathers and what is claimed to be the largest Evergreen Plane Tree on the Island. In 2009 it is planned to open a number of signposted walking routes in the area and the town is on the European E4 Long Distance Footpath.
Palaiochora is built on the ruins of the ancient city of Kalamydi.
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