Chania - Kydonia - PLATANIAS
PLATANIAS
The
many plane trees (platania) at the nearby river exlain the name of the
village. At the Venetian inventories Platanias is mentioned as Platanea
and Pirgho Platanea. The village was built amphitheatrically on a high,
rocky place, with picturesque houses. Now it has spread to the
sea-side. Nowadays we can describe Platanias as a tourist centre with
beautiful sandy beaches, next to a plush green hill. Opposite Platanias
lay the island of St. Teodori or Thodorou.
The
Turks mention it as Tourlou-Andasi, and the Venetians as San Theodoro.
In 1574, during the Venetian dominion, it was decided to fortify it in
order to stop the Turks from landing on Platanias. So, they built on
the island, on the highest point, a multi-angled fortress, which they
called Turluru, and another multi-angled fortress at a lower level,
which they called San Theodoro. At the present time the island serves
as a rearing place for the Cretan wild goat. The access is forbidden,
however, visitors can reach the islet by pedal-boat or swimming and can
encircle it. Platanias offers hotels, rooms for rent and taverns. Worth
visiting is the village of Platanias on top of the hill, picturesque
and peaceful with many orange groves. You can get there by suburban
buses from Chania (KTEL) or by car if you take the road to Kissamos.
(18 km west of Chania).
MALEME
A
village which is very important for recent Greek history, as violent
battles took place round its pre-war airport, between the Allies and
the Germans in May 1941. In this village you can also see the German
cemetary with the victims of the Second World War.
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