Aghios Antonios
In the neighbourhood called Charei is the beach of Aghios Antonios. Secluded, it has pebbles, stones and rocks – ideal for fishing. It is not organized, but you can relax in the shade of pine trees that grow on all sides.
If you are here around the 1-2 July, it is worth visiting the church of Aghios Antonios, nestling amongst the pines at the east end of the beach. On these days every year the large festival associated with the saint’s name day is held – celebrants arrive by boat and on foot, and overnight on the beach.
Trypiti
A deserted pebbly beach, caught between high vertical cliffs and with deep clear waters, it lies at the mouth of the gorge of the same name. Access to it, as with most beaches in the region, can only be made on foot, after a hike of 3 hours, or by boat from Aghia Roumeli.
The English sailor and cartographer, Thomas Spratt, who travelled in Crete in 1851, wrote of the area:‘.. the part of the coast is remarkably picturesque. Two peaked crags almost touch at the entrance to the gorge, as two portals to its entrance; but the valley expands immediately within them .. (Vol 2, 244)
Here once stood the city of Poikilasos – its ruins are preserved to the northwest, along with its harbour. There is nothing really coherent to see (some tombs cut into the cliffs): the terrain of this rocky coastline was abruptly raised in a severe earthquake in the 4th century AD.
On the beach of Trypiti is a pleasing church to Aghios Nikolaos, and some 400 m inland is another to Profitis Elias (the prophet Elijah), whose name day is the 20th July. From the afternoon of the day before, the worshippers arrive on the beach by boat and continue on foot up to the church. The service, followed by a feast with food and song, takes place the next day (the 20th).
