Nature

The Gorge of St. Savvas is the natural continuation of the canyon Trypiti, in the wild and imposing Asterousia mountains. In the arid landscape of Asteroussia Mts, the dense forest of the wild olive and carob trees looks like an oasis in the desert.

From the village Astiraki, Malevizi province, we can reach the fertile plateau of Vaklia. Before meeting the plateau Strouboulas we meet the position Galia. Galia is a completely barren plateau in contrast to the fertile reddish soils of Vaklia.

At the middle of the southeast shores of Lefki or Koufonissi island, at 75m altitude, we meet the ruined lighthouse of the island. There was found a temple, which unfortunately has suffered from predatory looting from the authorities (in 1920) in order to build the huge lighthouse, only 5m from the eastern short side of the temple where the entrance would have been, even though another stepped entrance was found on the north side.

At the west part of Chrissi islet you will meet the small lighthouse, powered by photovoltaic panel. The lighthouse is located close to the small chapel of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) and the dried lake of the island.

In Niatos the beauty is indescribable, as the views to the peak Kastri (2215m) of the White Mountains causes awe. If you ever drive to Sfakia via Askifou, do not forget to visit the two plateaus, as they are totally unknown and are awesome.

Vavouledo canyon starts about 1km east of the village Hamalevri. A trail runs along the gorge. Near the village Lidiana, the canyon joins the Gorge of Trahinos and the merged river runs till the "cosmopolitan" neighborhood of the Palea Roumata, Arhontika, where you can eat at the taverns.

At the center of Palea Roumata in Chania there is one the officially characterized monumental olive trees in Crete. The 3000 year old olive tree is surrounded by several other very old trees as well. The perimeter is 10.50 and there is a huge hole, where the locals had hidden weapons during the Turkish Era, while in 1941 a committee against the Germans met in the tree. This is the tree where the guns that were used in the battle of Anavos were also hidden (1941).

Just opposite the port of Agios Nikolaos is the island of Agii Pantes (All Saints), which takes its name after the homonym chapel. On feastday of the temple (56 days after Easter) townspeople visit the island by boat to join the feast. Next to the church of All Saints we see a domed building that dates back to the Venetian Era.