Camara Residence is located at Halepa, perhaps the most beautiful and certainly the most historic neighborhood of the picturesque town of Chania.
Halepa has preserved the aristocratic glory of the past and this is reflected in every step you take around the neighborhood. So let us see together some of the places worth visiting.
The Museum of Eleftherios Venizelos in the house of the former Greek Prime Minister is a pole of attraction for every visitor of the city. The entire interior is well preserved and the tour is very interesting. The exhibits cover most of the political career of the man as well as an important piece of modern Greek history. The car that he was shot into in Athens and the bloodstained clothes from the assassination attempt against him at Gare de Lyon in Paris are precious elements of the country’s history.
The Palace, next to the house of Eleftherios Venizelos, was built in 1882 by the merchant and supplier of the English fleet, Themistoklis Mitsotakis. The house is a classic example of a mansion of the time. By the declaration of the Cretan State, in 1898, it was chosen as the most suitable building for the residence of the High Commissioner Prince George. It has since passed into the history of the city under the name “The Palace”. Nowadays the Palace is unfortunately abandoned in the worsening of time.
The Catholic Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, was built in the late 19th century for the needs of the Catholics of Halepa. It is located in Elena Venizelou Square, next to the Eleftherios Venizelos Foundation.
Agia Magdalene on Dagli Street is a temple of Russian architecture. Prince George built the church of Aghia Magdalene in 1901-1903, when he was the high commissioner of Crete, with funds from Russia. The temple is located in blooming gardens worth visiting while combining it with a cup of freshly ground coffee at Elena Venizelou Square.
Tabakaria, used to be a leather processing area developed in the east of Chania before the mid-19th century. These industrial buildings form a unique architectural ensemble. Today, the visitor can enjoy the view of the city at sunset, accompanied by ouzo and fine seafood.
The area of Agia Kyriaki, inhabited around the same time with the city of Chania, back to the Minoan Era. Today a small temple nestled under the cliff next to the charming marina with the fishing boats, making the area an ideal destination for an afternoon promenade or even a dinner in the traditional tavern nearby.
In less than ten minutes on foot from Camara Residence, you can reach the shores of Halepa and more specifically the less known natural swimming pool of Kouloura. A rocky formation that creates a small-secluded bay. A place the locals love, ideal for a quick swim in the hot summer days.
The area of Agia Kyriaki, inhabited around the same time with the city of Chania, back to the Minoan Era. Today a small temple nestled under the cliff next to the charming marina with the fishing boats, making the area an ideal destination for an afternoon promenade or even a dinner in the traditional tavern nearby.
On the eastern side of Elena Venizelou Square stands the house of Emmanuel Bloom, an expatriated Benghazi merchant. The Italian Consulate was housed there for a few years during the Cretan period. The property was bought by the National Institute of Research and Studies “Eleftherios Venizelos” and since 2005 became the library and the archive of the foundation. In 2007, it was named after Bishop Irenaeus Galanakis, in honor of his vision of this foundation. The bronze statue of Eleftherios Venizelos is work of the Russian sculptor Paul Troubetzoy. It was crafted in 1927 and donated to be placed in the square in front of Bloom residence.
Right next to the Palace stands the former French School of Philosophy of the Order of St. Joseph. The two-story building was erected by Turkish Hussein Pasha. In 1895 he was bought by the Catholic Order and housed the French School, which was founded in Chania in 1852 with the permission of the Turkish government. The school was teaching French to girls from the most prosperous families of Chania. In 1983 the property was transferred to the Polytechnic of Crete.
Airport
Bakery
Beach
Café
Ferry Boat Port
Fuel Station
Hospital
Police Station
Restaurant
Super Market
Town Center
Pink-sand beaches with turquoise waters, imposing gorges, Venetian castles, scenic harbors and one of the most famous and delicious cuisines in the world are waiting for you to experience in Chania, probably the best part of the majestic island of Crete in southern Greece.
Stroll around the picturesque old town of Chania, filled with surprises in each corner. Traditional restaurants, beautiful little bars, cosy cafés and bakeries with local delicacies are waiting for you to indulge.
The old Venetian harbour with the imposing lighthouse, built in the 14th century by the Venetians, is the emblem of the old town and subject of (at least) a dozen shots laying in every visitor’s camera.
You can smell the history as you take a walk in the neighbourhoods of Chania old town, where Christians, Muslims and Hebrews once lived together in peace, all leaving their trails behind in the buildings around.
Apart from the old harbour, worth visiting, are the Archaeological Museum, Maritime Museum and the municipal market with traditional local products.
Taken its name because of the wild landscape with the steep cliffs and the strong sea streams (Seitan Limania = Satan’s Harbors) , this area of Akrotiri Cape, about 22 km east of Chania definitely worth a visit: A narrow cove protected by huge rocks, host a beautiful pebble beach called Stefanou, with deep, azure water calling you to dive in.
Access by asphalt road, then a steep path from the parking to the beach.
Perhaps the most spectacular beach of Crete, this masterpiece of nature located about 56 km northwest of Chania, is a must-see for all visitors of the island.
Formed below the imposing Gramvousa Cape, this marvellous lagoon with the white sand, the warm, shallow, turquoise water and the sand dunes make you feel that Crete is indeed an exotic island!
Access by car (unpaved, rocky dirt road) then a path from the parking to the beach. Alternatively by boat from Kissamos port (Kasteli).
Located about 76 km south-west of Chania, Elafonissi, with its pink sand and turquoise water, is one more wonderful, have-to-visit spot on the island. The sand takes this unique color from millions of crushed little shells and the water is shallow and warm, while the surrounding sand dunes with the beautiful flowers complete this exotic heaven.
Part of Natura 2000, Elafonissi is a protected natural resort and home to the endangered loggerhead sea-turtle (Caretta-Caretta) and the rare sea daffodil flowers, as well as several other endangered species of flora and fauna.
The Monastery of Chrysoskalitisa, 5 km from Elafonissi also worth a visit.
Access by asphalt road.
Falassarna, one the top 10 awarded beaches in Europe, is waiting for you to explore at about 60 km west of Chania. The long, white-sand beach, with the tropical turquoise waters is even more enchanting during the sunset, as there is nothing standing between the beach and the western horizon.
Access by asphalt road.
One of the most famous trekking trails in Europe and part of the E4 hiking trail, the impressive 13 km long Samaria Gorge, is definitely a must-do.
Home to kri-kri (Cretan wild-goat), the gorge is part of the National Reserve of Samaria and one of the largest of the many (about 50) wonderful gorges found in White Mountains.
It takes 4-8 hours to hike top to bottom, depending on your stops and your pace. At the end of the Gorge, after a 2 more km of walking, you reach Agia Roumeli beach where everyone is revitalizing after this all-day adventure. From there you can take the boat to Chora Sfakion and then return to Chania by bus.
Lefka Ori (meaning “White Mountains”) is a large mountain range in Chania prefecture that occupy a big part of western Crete with more than 30 summits, the largest of which is at 2453 m. (8048 ft). They have taken their name from the snow that covers the peaks during the winter.
Lefka Ori host many interesting gorges (the most famous of which is Samaria Gorge), as well as some very deep caves (more than 1 km depth), a numerous plateaus, and four refuges.
As the mountains are difficult to reach, with only a few roads leading to them, they had been used by the Cretan resistance during the Ottoman rule and the German occupation, where they could hide out of reach from the rulers’ armies.
Balos Beach
Elafanossi Beach
Falassarna Beach
Kalyves
Kasteli (Kissamos)
Omalos (Samaria Gorge)
Palaiochora
Seitan Limania
Sfakia (Chora Sfakion)
Souda Port
Sougia
Disclaimer: Camara Residence is not responsible for any errors in the maps, routes or distances listed on this website. In any case, the traveler should be informed by the local authorities about the weather conditions, as well as the restrictions and conditions prevailing on the road network before the start of their trip.
We guarantee that by booking directly with Camara Residence you are getting the lowest possible price for your stay.
