Page 270 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

EXPERIENCE Crete

13 beautiful spot overlooking the have been well preserved and,
sea. It played a prominent role above the south entrance, the
Plakiás in the evacuation of Allied Venetian Lion of St Mark looks
Πλακιάς forces from nearby beaches out to sea.
during World War II. In May 1828, Frangokástello
⌂ 35 km (22 miles) S Some 17th-century buildings was the scene of an ultimately
of Réthymno @
cluster around a large central futile battle in the Greek War
Once a simple fishing harbour courtyard, where the fountain of Indepen dence, when
serving the villages of Mýrthios bears the inscription “wash Hatzimihalis Daliannis, an
and Selliá, Plakiás is now a your sins, not just your face”. Epirot adventurer, seized the
full-scale resort with all the A small museum displays eccle- fortress. A superior force
usual facilities and a grey siastical artifacts, including of Cretan Muslims charged
sandy beach, 2-km (1-mile) silver candlesticks and highly Frango kastello and slaugh-
long. Sited at the mouth of decorative robes. En route to tered the entire garrison. On
the Kotsyfoú Gorge, and with the courtyard, you pass the the anniversary of the battle,
good road connections, original 10th-century mon- the soldiers’ ghosts are said to
Plakiás makes an excellent astery of Káto Préveli, now appear at dawn, march towards
base for exploring the region. restored as a museum. A short the fortress and vanish.
A 5-minute drive, or a scenic walk east of Píso Préveli, a Below the fortress is a sandy
walk around the headland, steep path leads to Préveli beach where the waters are
leads east to the beach of beach. This charming beach is shallow and warm. A scattering
Damnóni, now a fully fledged also known as Kourtaliótiko, or of rented rooms and tavernas
resort. Tiny, pretty coves Palm Beach, after the grove of cater for holiday-makers.
beyond it are good spots for Cretan palms along the river.
swimming. Just west of Plakiás, Excursion boats call here in
Soúda is an excellent beach. large numbers.
16 "
Moní Arkadíou
14 " 15 Μονή Αρκαδίου
Moní Préveli Frangokástello ⌂ 20 km (12 miles)
Μονή Πρέβελη Φραγκοκάστελλο SE of Réthymno
@ To Réthymno
⌂ 14 km (9 miles) E of ⌂ 14 km (9 miles) E of Hóra # From 9am daily
Plakiás @ § 28320 31246 Sfakíon @ # Daily The monastery of Arkadíou
# 9am–1 hour before sunset This fortress was built by the stands at the top of a winding
for both monasteries; call Venetians as a bulwark against
to check in winter
pirates and unruly Sfakiots in
Accessible by road through 1371. Its interior was recently
the Kourtaliótiko Gorge, the restored, with an event stage The Greek Orthodox
working monastery of Préveli and the ability to climb one of two-nave church
stands in an isolated but the towers. The curtain walls at Moní Arkadíou
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