Askifou plateau is about 50 kilometres from Chania, at an altitude of 730 metres, and is part of the area known as Sfakia. It is surrounded by the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) and resembles a giant cup, a skyphos in Ancient Greek, whence the name Askifou.

In 1821 there was a battle here between the Turks and the Sfakians, resulting in victory for the locals, Unfortunately the villages of Askifou were burned down by Hussein Bey two years later, in 1823. A relic of those times is the small fortress still standing at the top of the hill northeast of the plateau.

The name Askifou is said to derive from the ancient word Skifos, which means cup, as the circular plain looks like one. It is full of snow in winter and all green in Spring. The inhabitants are occupied with raising live stock, farming (grains, cereals, potatoes, grape), cheese and wine making and producing the Cretan liquor Raki (Sighoudia).

There are many wallnut trees in the area, as well as fruit trees and honey flowers. Try the wallnuts, fruits and honey from here, it's the best you ever had!
Photos: Turkish 19th century fort overlooking Askifou plateau, Crete.

 

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Nissimos plateau in the Lassithi mountains

Manika plateau in Fragokastelo

Anopolis plateau in Sfakia mountains

Stroumboulas plateau in Heraklion

Livadi plateau in Kroussonas

Lasithi Plateau, East Crete

Sitanos Plateau by Sitia

Paranimfi and Mournia Plateaus, Asterousia

Omalos plateau in the White mountains

Krapi plateau in the White mountains

Evdomo plateau in Tilissos

Limnakaro Plateau by Lassithi Mountains

Gious Kambos plateau in Rethymno

Vothonas plateau in Chania

Ziros - Chandras plateau by Sitia, East Crete

Galiano gorge in Rethimno west Crete

Samaria gorge in Chania region

Arkadi gorge in Rethimno west Crete

Kato Poros gorge in Rethimno west Crete

Agia Irini Gorge in Chania, West Crete

Prasano gorge in Rethimno west Crete

Kandanos Gorge in Chania, West Crete

Sfakiano gorge in Sfakia, west Crete

Kallikratis gorge in Sfakia, west Crete

Sirikari - Polirinia Gorge in Chania, West Crete

Lissos Gorge in West Crete

The Gorge of Elygia or Eligia, East of Samaria gorge

Rokka Gorge in Chania, West Crete

Imbros Gorge in Chania, West Crete

Moundros or Velonado gorge in Rethimno west Crete

Silde apartments in Chania, West Crete

Manolis Rooms in Paleochora, West Crete

Delta studios and apartments in Chania West Crete

Ilios apartments in Maleme Chania

Kalikratis village in Chania, West Crete

Kaloniktis Village by Rethimno, Central Crete

Anisaraki by Kandanos Village, west Crete traditional villages

Ravdoucha village by Kissamos in Chania, West Crete

Stylos or Stilos village in Apokoronas, Chania, West Crete

Fournes in Chania, west Crete traditional villages

Mouri Village in Anopolis Sfakia

Kandanos historical Village, west Crete traditional villages

Askifou Villages in Sfakia

Achladiakes in Paleochora-Chania, west Crete traditional villages

Afrata Village by Rodopou peninsula, west Crete Rodopou peninsula

Skouloufia Village by Rethimno

Temenia in Paleochora-Kandanos, west Crete traditional villages

Varypetro in Chania, west Crete traditional villages

Tsichlopigado village, Chania, West Crete

Koudouma Monastery, Central South Crete

Vrontisiou Monastery, Zaros Central Crete

Chrisopigi Monastery, Chania

Agia Sofia Monastery in Armeni, East Crete

Agios Ioannis Monastery, West Crete Akrotiri, Chania

Arkadi monastery in Rethimno. Cretan history

Vosako Monastery, Rethimno Crete

Agia Triada Monastery, West Crete Akrotiri, Chania

Dioskouri Monastery, Rethimno Crete

Kyra Eleousa Monastery, Gouves, Heraklion

Atalis or Bali Monastery, Rethimno Crete

Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) in Kardamoutsa

Agios Ioannis Theologos Monastery, Heraklion

Agios Nikitas Monastery, Fragokastelo

Gonies Monastery or Odigitrias, West Crete Kolimbari, Chania