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Paleochora
(or Paleohora, or Paliochora) has been
built on top of a small peninsula and washed by the waves on three
sides. There are two beautiful and picturesque bays with fantastic
beaches. The
Eastern beach is called "Halikia" , whereas the one to the West is called
"Pahia
Ammos" . Both beaches have been awarded with a
Blue Flag.
Paleochora
has approx. 2.500 permanent inhabitants, a number of small family-type
hotels
and apartment complexes, small traditional tavernas and kafenions,
shops,
banks, a pharmacy, internet café, a nice open-air cinema, doctors,
telephone
company (OTE), post office and everything else that is offered in a
small well
organised holiday resort.
Locals and
visitors live together in perfect harmony in the wonderful atmosphere
created
by the combination of crystal clear waters and 15 kms of clean beaches,
the
quiet hills, the picturesque little streets, the old Venetian Castle
Fortetza
(built in 1278), the breathtaking sunsets and the green or colourful
spots of
the gardens and flowerpots of the village.
Every
evening and night in the summer, the main road is being closed for the
traffic
and filled with tables and chairs. The visitors can enjoy food and
drink in one
of the traditional tavernas or just take a romantic stroll.
Paleochora is
also the perfect base and starting point for excursions to the sights
of the
area, e.g. the ancient town of Lissos, the villages of Sougia, Agia
Roumeli and Sfakia, the island of
Gavdos or the
picturesque Elafonissi with
its golden beach and turquoise waters. You can visit these places with
the
small ferry, almost on a daily base throughout the summer season.
You should
pay a visit to the tiny village of Anidri and its little gorge, leading
down
to the wonderful beach of "Yianniskari" famous for its crystal-clear
waters, or
else to the village of Azogire and to the Byzantine churches and
chapels of
the area.
In
Paleochora, the visitor can choose between a variety of activities,
such as
windsurfing, scuba diving, fishing, canoeing, and last but not least
walking on
the part of the European Walking Path E4 which leads along this part of
Crete, or in the well-known gorges of Samaria and Agia Irini.
All the
above make Paleochora a unique and
blessed place, to visit again and
again.
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