Overview

The historical village of Chora Sfakion is the centre of the province of that name, which is spread out like an eagle's nest on the White Mountains. The coastal strip is occupied by modern building constructions, while on the hills all around the old stone mansions remain, although many of the houses are in ruins.

Sfakia has a harbour from which ships sail to Agia Roumeli and other places along the south coast as far as Paleohora. The village of Chora Sfakion is a place for recreation after a picturesque excursion through the White Mountains, starting from the green village of Vryses Apokoronou.

From Chora visits can be made to historic Anopoli, Aradena beside the gorge of the same name with fresco-painted church of Astratigos, Loutro and Livaniana.

Historic Loutro is a quiet secluded little harbour, once a refuge of pirates and sailors, it is built beside the archaeological site of Phoenikas, a city of importance in ancient times.

The monastery of Panayia was the seat of the local government during the Uprising of 1821 against the Turks. From Loutro there are splendid nearby beaches to visit, and a pleasant walk through the archaeological site to the bay of Phoenikas.

At the southeast corner of the Nomos of Chania and a short distance from the boundary of the Nomos of Rehtymna, beside the sea, stands the Fortress of Frangokastello, lost in legend.

It was built in the 14th century to guard the Venetians against the rebellious inhabitants of the nearby villages of Patsianos and Kapsodasos.

The fortress was built on the site of an ancient city, from which two Early Christian basilicas have survived, Ayios Nikitas with its mosaic floor and Agios "Astrategos". Near the Fortress is the small monastery of Ayios Haralambos.

A battle fought in 1827 between the Creeks and Turks gave rise to the legend abut the phantoms of the dead, the Drosoulites, who appear there in around the month of May.

 

SOURCE: RENTAL ACCOMMODATIONS UNION OF MUNICIPALITY
OF CHANIA