Sights Beaches ..in Chania area Balos Beach and Gramvousa area in Chania, west Crete
| Balos Beach and Gramvousa area in Chania, west Crete |
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The road from Kaliviani is well paved dirt road, with amazing view to the steep rocky seaside of the east side of the peninsula. The road ends one-two km before the beach, and the visitor can follow a pave road to Balos. The two islands Gramvousa – once the haunt of pirates – today you can find the ruin of a Venetian fortress. Due to its strategic location, Gramvousa was fortified by the Venetians, who built a well-fortified castle on the top of a steepy rock at an altitude of 137 m. Construction on the castle of Gramvousa started in 1579 and ended in 1582. It was destroyed in 1588, however, when thunder struck on the powder store. The castle was rebuilt in 1630. It was one of the three castles to remain under Venetian dominion after the Turkish occupation of Crete (the other two were those of Sitia and Spinalonga. Even though the castle was impregnable, during the Venetian-Turkish war the Italian commandant was bribed by the Turks and he gave over the castle in 1692.
During the Greek uprising against the Turks, Gramvousa played an important and desicive role. After many attempts the castle was finally occupied by the Cretan revolutioners in 1825, when a team of Cretans disguised as Turks entered the castle. Gramvousa was the first part of Crete to be liberated by the Turks. The rocky island became a shelter for over 3000 people, and a base of operations for the revolution teams. But it also became a base of pirates that plundered every ship that passed to the seas around the island, so with the agreement of the Greek Government a English-French garrison took over the island of Gramvoussa in 1828. Today, the high walls of the Gramvoussa are preserved, half ruined but awesome.
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 August 2012 09:08 |
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Hello, take a good map and study the route in Google maps. Drive carefully between the villages, the road is not very bad in generaly. The biggest part is not paved but it is very interesting and beautiful.
There are 2 alternatives:
1. Paleochora - Gialos - Agioi Theodori - Sklavopoula - Maniatiana - Elafonisi
2. Paleochora - Voutas - Lagadas - Sklavopoula - Maniatiana - Elafonisi
See also this article:
Driving from Paleochora to Elafonisi: http://www.webcrete.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1477&Itemid=69
WebCrete Team
Hope you do..
Hello,
You have to go to Kissamos (or Hania) and ask the travel agencies there - and the small ones... You will probably need to rent along with other guests if possible, a boat to lower the cost to Balos.
Alternatively you drive carefully the dirt road to the Balos beach and at one point you leave the car and walk for another half hour until the end.
Thank you
It was not a "booze cruise" but a very delightful excursion. We bought our tickets from a travel agent in Kolimbari Center (between a produce store and a cafe. I think her name was Mary and I believe the cost was 20 euros...not bad for the whole day of cruising in beautiful blue, clear water. However, if I remember correctly, we picked up the boat from Kolimbari harbor. My friends and I were so impressed with this trip. The scenery was absolutely beautiful. A few yards from the beach in either Gramvousa or Balos (I forget which one)some people jumped off of the boat and swam to shore. Those of us who didn't were brought in by small boats. (Either wear your bathing suit or take it with you then change). We stayed a couple of hours..the water was warm and fabulous..it was a day to remember.
Don't miss it.
We went in May, 2006. You can buy food and beverage on the ship and either stay below or on top while you sit at tables. I think Balos is the island that was inhabited by pirates centuries ago and there is a Venetian church which you can hike to.
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