Paleochora

Through the fascinating mountains of Southwestern Crete a relatively well built road is twisting down to the south coast. Between the beautiful sandy and pebble beach an the rocky coast, situated on a peninsula heading to the south Paleohora awaits his visitors. For Crete-maniacs and those who want to become, the village with ist about 2.000 inhabitants is offering old tradition as well as the connection to the "modern world". The old port represents the point of starting or the point of ending of a tour through the famous "Samaria Gorge" as well as a trip to the "Caribbean beach" of Crete - "Elafonissos"with its rose coloured sand. The ruins of the old Venetian castle are witnesses of the former importance of the village as a point of defence. It is mentioned, that it was built on the ruins of the ancient city Kalamidi. In 1278 the Venetian Duke Marino Gradenigo built the historical"Kastello Selino" at the top of a hill with a beautiful view to the Libyan Sea. As a relict of the Venetian area it is call nowadays "Fortezza".