Maleme – Falasarna – Chania.taxi

Our tour journey will start from

Maleme, which is best known as the main landing site of the German paratroopers invading Crete in 1941, at the start of the Battle of Crete (Operation Mercury) during World War II. The paratroopers captured the airstrip, which was located just outside the town and once captured. This airstrip allowed the Germans to airlift the reinforcements needed to capture the rest of the island. Many of the paratroopers lost their lives at the attack and are now buried at the German War Cemetery located on a hill viewing Maleme.

There is also a Royal Air Force (RAF) Memorial for the airmen of the 30^th and 33^rd Squadrons who died during the battle. The memorial is located behind the roadside hedge between Maleme and Tavronitis, overlooking the Iron Bridge across the Tavronitis River and the end of Maleme airport.

Afterwards, we will visit the oldest olive tree alive in the world! The Olive Tree Museum of Vouves is ideally located, next to the Monumental Olive Tree, which is visited by approximately 20,000 people every year from all over the world. That number which is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years. The Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves has been declared as a “natural heritage monument” by decision no. 603/17-2-1997of the Secretary-General of the Region of Crete, due to its special ecological and historical importance.

Before we will go to Falasarna beach,

we will stop at the monastery of Panagia Kyra Gonia Odigirtrias. The Monastery of Panagia Odigitrias is located at the base of the peninsula of swords, about 26 km west of Chania and 2.5 km north of Kolymbari, next to the sea. The monastery is also known as the Monastery of “Our Lady of the Angels Corner” because it is located at the western edge of the Gulf of Chania. The monastery was founded on this site during the 17th century and soon flourished. Gonia Monastery played an important role in local history. It was a continuous source of resistance to all occupiers of Crete and has been consequently destroyed many times by various conquerors, as is also proven by a bullet which can be found walled at the eastern wall.

The original church of the 14th century is located at the cemetery, near the present monastery complex. The complex is surrounded by a tall wall, resembling a Venetian castle. The temple is dedicated to the Virgin Mary (celebrated on August 15th) and has several chapels. Around there, there are numerous auxiliary buildings of the monastery (cells, abbey, bank, warehouses, cellars, etc.). The monastery’s private lands, also housed the Orthodox Academy of Crete, a gym, a swimming pool, several schools, a boarding school, a district court, etc. In the museum of the monastery, the visitor can admire unique, old icons.

Falasarna bay is one of the most formidable beaches in Greece

It has been awarded on several occasions, as the best beach of Crete and one of the 10 best beaches in Europe. Falasarna spans a huge area and consists actually of five consecutive beaches, with the majority of visitors preferring the two central ones. Maleme – Falasarna tour

The sand in Falasarna is white, making the beach resemble to these situated at tropical islands. Indeed, if you’re lucky enough to be there on a day that is not blowing from the west, something which is nevertheless quite rare in western Crete, you will be enchanted by the beach and its turquoise waters.

Time Duration : 5 hours

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