Therisso Zourva – The Gorge of “Eleftherios Venizelos”
Our journey will start from Therisso.
The Gorge of Therisso is also named “Eleftherios Venizelos”, as a tribute to the renowned Cretan politician.
The main gorge of therisso is six kilometres long. The vertical cliffs are impressive and the lush vegetation is comparable to the kind found at the other gorges of the Chania prefecture. The place deserves a visit, even by the use of a vehicle, combined with a visit to the historical beautiful village of Therissos, which is built at the foot of the White Mountains at an altitude of 580 meters. A trip there is something that will remain unforgettable to every visitor.
The place played a crucial role in the modern history of Crete since the residents have not stopped fighting the Turks during their entire 300 years occupation of the island, who repeatedly tried to break the resistance of this strong position.
In 1866, Theriso was burned down
by Mustapha Pasha Naili and many people- including the mother of the later prime minister of Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos, moved to the island of Kythera and the Peloponnese.
The historic village acquired greater importance during the events of 1905 when Venizelos and his followers declared from there the revolution against the autocratic regime of Prince George-who was imposed by the Great Powers- paving the events that led to the subsequent union of Crete with Greece. The Halides brothers, heroes of the 1821 revolution, also come from Theriso.
Afterwards, we will go to Zourva and Meskla. The way for Zourva is simply amazing, as we drive up, crossing the White Mountains. The visitor will be enchanted by the spectacular view.