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Plaka, Apakoronas
Plaka is one of the most traditional villages in Crete. It administratively belongs to Hania Prefecture and it is located 23 km away from the city of Hania. Plaka is built on a 70-meter altitude, over the coastal village of Almyrida and has a very healthy climate.
Its permanent inhabitants are hardly more than 300 but during the summer population increases rapidly. People in Plaka mainly work on their farms (olive trees, vineyards, and vegetables). They produce fine olive oil, wine and the traditional drink of Crete called “tsikoudia”. A great part of the population is also involved tourism, as the area has gradually become a mild tourist resort. Some others make their living by fishing or stockbreeding.
Plaka has many traditional buildings and for the past few years many Europeans buy and restore old houses or even purchase land in order to build their permanent residents or holiday houses.
From the West, the village has a fantastic view of Souda Bay (the largest natural bay in the Mediterranean), while from the South there is a view of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) which are covered with snow throughout the winter. Northwards the village faces Akrotiri (where the international Chania airport is situated and from the North East it meets with the mountainous area Drapanokefala.
Plaka has the most beautiful sunsets, famous water caves where one can take a picnic and swim on the rocky costline. Around the village there are interesting walking routes – (ranging from 3 to 10 kilometers) for the visitor to explore and exercise. Plaka is one of the 75 villages in the Apokorona Province and belongs to the Vamos Municipality.
There is a health center at a distance of 8 km, while all other services post office, banks etc. are located 4 km away. The airport is 25 km away from Plaka. There is regular bus service to Chania, Rethymnon and to the villages around. Many restaurants and traditional coffee shops are open throughout the year. Plaka -and the nearby villages- are also well known because of the Oscar awarded film “Zorbas the Greek”, written by Nikos Kazantzakis, directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis, starring Anthony Quin, was filmed in this area.
Every summer -at about the end of July- a two days traditional feast is organized to honor the memory of the great lyra player Mihalis Papadakis or else Plakianos. During the feast guests enjoy Cretan dances and can visit the textile and ceramics exhibitions. The custom of Klidonas is celebrated at the end of June and the Carnival usually takes place in March.
Plaka is an ideal place for holidays as it combines a peaceful stay and a good climate, friendly people, easy access to other locations and sights as the Fortress of Aptera, Kournas Lake, Samaria Gorge, Venizelos’ Graves, the Venetian Hania Harbor, the Folklore Museum of Gavalohori, the “BLOWING GLASS” workshop in Kokkino Horio, the permanent glass painting exhibition by Ant. Santorinakis and many more…
Chania Old Town
The Egyptian Lighthouse, which is one of the oldest in the world, prevails in the old Port of Chania. The sea-tossed stone lighthouse that is located at the edge of the breakwater, is not only the “guard” of the old Venetian port, but also its most famous jewel.
During the Venetian occupation (1204 – 1669), the need for the closer presence of Venetians in Crete made them construct a large number of “Neoria” (arsenal) in Chania, where the ships would be repaired during the winter. The construction of the first two “Neoria” in Chania was completed in 1526. In 1593, sixteen “Neoria” had already been constructed.
The Municipal Market of Chania, the large building of 4000 square meters in the centre of Chania is the “heart” of the city. Its foundation started on August 14, 1911, at the place that was the main rampart of the fortification during the Venetian period, and the construction of the building was completed during the second half of 1913.
