A second journey that, once we have crossed the mountainous bulk of the boroughs ends at the Libyan sea is the one that leads us to Paleochora. It is a wonderful trip through a green landscape and picturesque villages. We start from Tavronitis. A pretty village, almost by the sea, built next to the river Tavronitis with its architecturally interesting bridge. Today, the beach of Tavronitis, with it's clean sea, beautiful view of the Cretan Sea, excellent pedestrian coastal walkways and 2-3 pretty shops by the sea (as well as the all green organized camping) welcomes visitors as the ideal place for taking relaxing walks, bicycling, swimming and eating good food. Τraveling south, the first village we encounter is Polemarchi, small and beautiful, built amphitheatrically on a hillside with a panoramic view of the Cretan Sea. Then we reach Voukolies, a big village in the area, with year round important cultural events. On Holy Friday, there is a special ceremony as well as a big festival in July. There are small and large gorges in the area, with endemic herbs and rare birds, as well as interesting walking trails. The famous waterfalls, the small one and the double one are beautiful and the people that know the way are few (an easy path from Voukolies to Palia Roumata). After that, we reach Floria where there are churches with Byzantine wall paintings, the first one of the Holy Fathers (1462) and the second of St. George (1497) where there are many wall paintings by George Provatopoulos.

KANTANOS is the capital of the province of Sellino. Its name is identified with the ancient city of Kantanos, which means “town of victory”. Parts of the ancient town have not survived, but evidence from excavations confirms that Kantanos flourished during the Roman period and later during the Byzantine period when it became a Seat for the Bishop. In the area of Kantanos there are many Byzantine churches most of which have wall paintings. The most renowned are the church of the Archangel Michael with wall-paintings of Pagomenos from 1328, of the Virgin Mary, of St Kyriakos, of St John and of St Ann. Kantanos occupies an important part in contemporary history due to its heroic resistance against the Germans during the Second World War, which resulted in it being demolished, and most of its inhabitants being murdered by the conquerors. The Germans placed an inscription that read, “Here was Kantanos”.



KADROS As far back as the last century, travelers mentioned the town with special emphasis. The town flourished during the Hellenistic years (4th-1st century C.C.). The visible ruins are many: walls of houses, foundations of large edifices and graves carved in rock. The town was surrounded by a city-wall built according to the multi-angled system. From its position, one can understand that it had control of at least today's “Kakodiki” land, where according to various accidental finds and through evidence of excavations, there must have been various small settlements in the valley of Vlithia as far as Paleochora.

PALEOCHORA It was probably built on the ruins of ancient Kalamidi. In 1282, the Venetians built the historic Kastello Selino after which the Selino district was named, previously known as “Orina”. The township we know as Palaeochora was finally established at the end of the last century. The fortress, which dominates the small peninsula and commands a lovely view over the Libyan Sea, was built and destroyed again and again by the Venetians, the Turks, Barbarossa's pirates and later by Cretan rebels and Germans during the Second World War. The ruins that remain today are the quadrangular enclosure, some cisterns and the remains of old buildings. The enclosure underwent repairs by the Turks. Five kilometers beyond Palaeochora, in the village Anidros, one can see the ruins of a 14th century Byzantine church with some elegant frescoes. In Azoghyres village there is the Historical and Folklore Museum and the Aghion Pateron Church. Pateres (Priests) are said to have lived in the lovely Zoure cave nearby. We suggest you walk down the European path E4 and ride in one of the little kayaks to the wonderful beaches of Gavdos Island, Elaphonissos, Aghia Roumeli, Sougia, Lissos, Loutro, Phinicas and Sfakia. Bear in mind that from Paleochora there is access to the three gorges in Southern Crete: Samaria, Aghia Irene and Anydri Gorge, which is the closest. Paleochora today, has 2.000 inhabitants is 75 km to the south of Hania with 1.900 hotel beds and pensions, a 500 seat camp site, an 18-km-long beach, a very lively market place and 24-hour entertainment and can compete head to head with any resort of a similar caliber.
Beaches: East Beach (Halikia), Keratides, Genniskari, Pachia Ammos, Psilos Volakas, Plakaki, Grameno Koundouras, Koundoura (cedar tree beaches), Krios.