Paliani Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Crete and it has as a trademark a very old myrtle tree (Myrtus communis). This specific myrtle is considered sacred (Holy Myrtle) and is honored on September 24. Inside the trunk of the Holy Myrtle, as they say, is believed to be the icon of Panagia Mirtidiotissa (Virgin Mary of Myrtle).
At a forgotten area of the region Selino in South Chania, you will meet the well hidden gorge of Pelekaniotis River. It is the river with the most water flow in Selino and it is so important that the whole municipality of Paleochora is named Pelekanos. It has water all year round and forms a lush green valley at its exit, at Maherota location.
Armenopetra is located 73km southeast of Heraklion and 5km east of the seaside village of Keratokambos. The beach is situated south of town Kapsali and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the region of Keratokambos. The area is quite dry, as it’s name implies (Kapsali means dry and arid).
The secluded gulf of Korakia is located 48km east of Rethymno and 39km west of Heraklion, near the village Sises and close to Fodele beach. There are three adjacent beaches, which are mainly sandy and large pebbles, open to northwest winds. The beaches are very secluded and almost unknown to everybody. Korakia is totally unorganized, thus you should have anything you need with you.
The Horse of Messara, or otherwise Georgalidiko, Giorgalidiko or Cretan horse is a domestic horse breed native of Crete, which does not exist elsewhere in the world. The breed exists on the island at least since the Preminoan Era, because a horse skeleton has been found in excavations dating back before 1700BC and, thus, it is considered the oldest breed in Europe. The Cretans call it horse of Messara because of initial breeding that in the homonym plain of Crete.
Faflagos is located 89km southeast of Iraklion, near the village Arvi. It is a small seaside settlement at the exit of a small valley, which is crossed by the river Blavaris or Blavopotamos, which has no water in summer and starts from Kato Symi. In front of the village, stretches a very long shore with beautiful and tranquil beaches. Nearby, there are many greenhouses with crops of bananas and fresh vegetables.
Εδώ υπάρχουν μερικές αμμουδερές παραλίες μακριά από τα αδιάκριτα βλέμματα, ενώ ο βραχώδης γενικά βυθός είναι ίσως ο πλουσιότερος στο νησί. Όπως επίσης έχει πολύ συχνά αέρα γι’ αυτό σχεδόν πάντα θα δείτε windsurfers. Ιδιαίτερη αίσθηση επίσης προκαλεί η πολύ στενή λωρίδα γης.
