Page 274 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

EXPERIENCE Crete

Clear waters at the small,
sheltered beach of Galíni, a
former fishermen’s village

s in local tradition the burial Nikos Gavalas
⌂ Voriás Monofatsíou
place of Zeus, Arhánes was
Galíni a thriv ing and important # 8am–4pm Mon–Fri; week­
Γαλήνη settlement in Minoan times. ends by arrangement
In 1964, the remains of a ∑ gavalascretewines.gr
⌂ 70 km (43 miles) E Minoan palace were found
of Réthymno @
in the centre of the village.
Formerly a fishing village, A short walk out of town, f
Galíni is today a full-blown on Foúrni Hill to the west,
tourist resort. The original lies a vast Minoan Cemetery. Hersónisos
village, now only a handful Among the treasures uncov- Χερσόνησος
of old houses and narrow ered here was the tomb of a
streets, is dwarfed by the princess with mirror and gold ⌂ 26 km (16 miles) E
mass of holi day apartments. diadem in place, as well as of Iráklio @
The harbourfront is alive with exquisitely engraved signet A busy port from Classical
busy tavernas; just beyond it rings. Some of these are on to early Byzantine times,
is a small sandy beach popular display in Arhánes at the Hersónisos (more correctly
with sunbathers. Archaeo logical Museum. Liménas Hersonísou) is today
Taxi boat trips sail daily On the north slope of Mount the centre of the package-
from Galíni’s harbour to the Gioúhtas at Anemospiliá is the holiday business. Amid the
neighbouring beaches of site of a Minoan sanctuary. plethora of tavernas, souvenir
Agios Geórgios and Agios Though little remains to be shops and bars, the harbour
Pávlos and, further still, to seen today, the views of still retains faint intima tions
Palm Beach at Moní Préveli. Mount Ídi are sensational. of the old Hersónisos. Along
There are less frequent The Kazantzákis Museum the waterfront a pyramid-
excursions to the Paximádia at Myrtiá has memorabilia of shaped Roman fountain
islands, where there are good the Cretan author of Zorba the with fish mosaics dates from
sandy beaches. Greek. The museum is located the 2nd–3rd century AD.
next to his ancestral home. Some remains of the Roman
The surrounding area is an harbour, now mostly sub-
d important winemaking region. merged, can also be seen here.
On the coast, at the eastern
Among the wineries offering
Arhánes tours is Nikos Gavalas, which edge of town, traditional
Αρχάνες produces superb organic wine. Cretan life is recreated at the
Cretan Open-Air Museum,
⌂ 16 km (10 miles) S Minoan Cemetery where exhibits cover a range
of Iráklio @
⌂ Foúrni Hill # Daily ¢ Main of subjects, including a
Away from Crete’s coastal public hols windmill, a stone house and
holiday resorts, Arhánes is native herbs. The Crete Golf
a down-to-earth farming Kazantzákis Museum Club, just inland, is one of only
centre, where olive groves and " ⌂ Myrtiá # Apr–Oct: two golf courses on the island.
small vineyards chequer the 9am–5pm daily; Nov–Mar: To cool off in, the Acqua Plus
rolling landscape. Lying at the 10am–3pm Sun ¢ Main Water Park is a playground of
foot of sacred Mount Gioúhtas, public hols ∑ kazantzakis.gr pools and water slides.
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