Marathi Beach
Marathi is located 17km east of Chania and 5km east of the Creta Naval Base in Souda Bay, on the southeastern coast of Akrotiri. It is a popular resort in the Chania area, which attracts many visitors every summer, mainly families and elderly people.
Marathi hosts two beautiful beaches with fine sand and shallow calm water, ideal for children. They are very well protected from the winds, as they face to the south and have a nice view of Drapanos Cape and the White Mountains. The beaches are separated by a small pier, which also serves as a harbor for fishing boats and small ferries. It is well organized with all the necessary amenities nearby.
500m opposite Marathi, there is the small island Marathi or Palia Souda (Paleosouda), which can be reached by swimming. On the island, there is a small pine wood, while its western coast is steep and is popular to scuba divers.
Moreover, if you follow the road leading to the north, you will meet (on the beach road) the ruins of the Roman town called Minoa, which probably was a seaport city of Aptera. The archaeological site, also known as the Small Palace of Minos (despite not being dated from the Minoan Times), hosts traces of buildings and baths probably related to an old harbor, military facilities, and a mansion. Indeed, on the beach, there is still a semicircular wall.
Continuing northwest, and after crossing the part of the beach where some ducks usually saunter, we follow the road to the church of St. Spyridon, a beautiful seascape for wedding or christening ceremonies.
On the other hand, if from the port we continue southwest, we will find ourselves at the end of the beach of the harbor, which has large pebbles. The beach at this point is called Sosorides and is very popular with locals seeking calm places without fuss. Sosorides can be reached through a paved road, starting a few meters before reaching Marathi from Chania.
