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Gramvousa & Balos 2013

Gramvousa & Balos Cruises First sailing 03 May 2013

Samaria Gorge

The national park of Samaria is open from Sunday, April 28, 2013, as announced by the Forest Directorate of Chania. Guided tours of our office will begin on Thursday 09 May 2013. In a few days we will announce the exact days and times.

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General Tourism Office

Iroon Polytechneiou 131
73400 - Chania - Crete
Tel: +30 28220 22900
Fax: +30 28220 22970
Mobile: +30 6947091549
Email: info@balos-travel.com
 

Other Villages

Sfinari 
Sfinari perfectly combines mountain and sea view. Along the beach you will find several restaurants with traditional food, as well as, many rooms and apartments. The route to Sfinari through steep mountains with view to the sea will be unforgettable. You will arrive to this small fishing village after a 17 km ride from Kissamos with destination to the west (after the village Platanos).

 

Kaloudiana
    East of Kissamos, in a 5 km distance are Kaloudiana, a village of 215 inhabitants in the valley of Tyflos river. Centre of the namesake community, which includes the settlements Korfalonas and Kourthiana, Kaloudiana is a small junction from where the roads, through arboraceous mountain areas, to the inland of Mithimna Municipality and the southwestern and western beaches of Crete begin.

 

Potamida
   Located 7 km south of Kissamos, following the road to Vulgaro, is the village Potamida, built on the banks of Tyflos river. It is centre of the namesake community, has 238 residents and was first mentioned in the census of 1834.

In the village  of  Potamida  found impressivegeological phenomenon of  "Komolithon". Tallmounds  of  white soil (earth pyramids).


Voulgaro
The village Voulgaro head of the namesake community,is located 9 km southeast of Kissamos and includes the small villages Dermitziana, Latziana, Makronas, Mouri and Chouloudiana. The name of the village originates from the Bulgarian troops of Nikiforos Fokas, who lived in 961 AD. In the village Latsiana, about 2 km south of Voulgaro, following the road to Mouri, are the ruins of a three-aisled basilica (the three-aisled basilica has narthex, atrium and facade) of the 15th century, dedicated to Agia Varvara.
Located 4 km south of Voulgaro, following rough dirt road, is the small village Mouri with 116 inhabitants. Just before entering the village a path leads to the byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos. Apart from the unusual mural of Agios Nikolaos, the church of cruciform shape presents the distinctiveness that its vertical, from north to south, aisle is higher than the main.

 

Kalathenes
Built at an altitude of 280m, the village Kalathenes is 13 km southeast of Kissamos and 50 km southwest of Chania. It has 290 inhabitants, who are involved in the production of olive oil, wine, dairy products. In the village, one can find the Rotonda, a venetian nobleman's mansion, built with original architectural style in the 16th century. It also has a women's cooperative that produces traditional hand woven products. From the village you can go to Topolia by car, 3 km to the east.

 

Sirikari
In a distance of 22 km south from Kissamos, the village Sirikari is located , centre of the namesake community, which includes the settlements Kioliana, Sineniana  and Kostogiannides. Built at an altitude of 500m., Sirikari has 53 residents, while its name is likely to derive from the byzantine occupation of sirikari, creator of sirika, namely silk fabrics. From the village  begin mountain trails  to Polyrrinia, Vlatos and Kampos, as well as, to the  neighbouring gorge, that has been  declared a national park.
It is a green area with gorges and streams.The ride by car to this point,  through luxuriant vegetation,  is  enough to convince you of the beauty of the area. This is where the beautiful Sirikariano canyon ,  leading to the village of Polirinia begins, where  the namesake ancient city was built.
In Sirikari  an amazing forest of tall chestnut trees , waterfalls and running streams is formed.
A visit to Sirikari will amaze you, especially, if it is  accompanied by hiking through the beautiful gorge, leading to the ancient roman city of Polyrinia. The ancient city walls have survived in relatively good condition at  its  citadel, on a high hill with view to the bay of Kissamos. The vegetation in the canyon and surrounding area is rampant, with many trees and herbs of Crete to rotate continuously.
Near Sirikari ,at Sineniana in particular,  two watermills exist in excellent condition. Furthermore,it is worth visiting the church Koimisi tis Theotokou, especially during the festival of August 15th , where a   big feast takes place. The church is built into the chestnut forest, while you will see other trees like oaks, cypresses and plane trees. A little furthe,r there is an abandoned settlement with a wonderful acorn forest.Also, the byzantine 15th century church of Agioi Apostoloi, is located there.

 

Kallergianna
Former Kato Palaiokastro, name by which it has been called since 1577, the village Kallergianna is built at an altitude of 100m . and is located 1.5 km south of Kissamos.A small village of 63 residents, in a fertile valley, Kallergiana is the centre of the namesake community, which includes Agios Antonios,  Vardiana, Dafni, Kampos and  Marediana.

 

Malathyros
Malathyros, village of 245 inhabitants, is built at an altitude of 315m. Located 16 km southeast of Kissamos and 48 km from Chania.Centre of the namesake community, used to be a place of  important battles in 1867, thanks to which, the march of the Turks was intercepted . In the village one can find the churches of Agia Irini, with well-preserved frescoes,and of Koimisi tis Theotokou  and Astratigos. In a distance of 500m. outside Malathyros   the derelict  towers of the namesake castle are preserved.

 

Rokka
Built at an altitude of 210m., the village Rokka has 292 inhabitants and is the centre of the namesake community ,to which the small village Kera belongs. Old traditional village, Rokka is  l 7 km southeast of Nopigia and is built at the roots of a steep hill called Troulli. At its top,  the ruins of a byzantine castle, with remains of buildings and tanks, are preserved. The village's name stems from  the name of the castle (Castel Rocca). At the roots of the hill, inside a cave ,a small church, dedicated to Agios Antonios, is located.

 

Sasalos
The mountain village Sasalos has 57 villagers and  is the centre of the namesake community, which includes the settlements  Kountoudiana and Maneriana. Built at an altitude of 340m. , Sasalos is first mentioned in the census of 1577 and is located 21 km south-southeast of Kissamos. At the entrance of the village begins the small canyon Salase, which leads to Tyflos river.

 

Sfakopigadi
Centre of the namesake community, which includes  Armenochori and Trialonia, Sfakopigadi village is located 12 km southeast of Kissamos and is built at an altitude of 280m. ,on the way to Malathiro. It is first reported in the venetian census of 1577.

 

Faleliana
Although it has only 24 inhabitants, the village Faleliana is centre of the namesake community, which includes the settlements Koleni, Kotsiana  and Liridiana ,a total population of 259 people. Built at an altitude of 100m. and surrounded by olive groves, the village is located 11 km east of Kissamos and is named after  a version of the italian word  falegnane, which means carpenter.

 

Chairethiana
The community  Chairethiana consists of the namesake village, which is 7 km. away from Kissamos, built at an altitude of 260m. and has 134 inhabitants.

 

 
 
 
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