Where is samaria gorge

Providing shelter to dozens of endemic species and subspecies, the Samaria National Park is home to the famous Cretan Agrimi Goat, the Golden Eagle and the Cretan Wildcat — just to name a few. Although the area has been mostly isolated, traces of ancient settlements have been discovered near to the chapel of Agios Nikolaos indicating a possibility of the Sanctuary and Oracle of Apollo being located somewhere in close vicinity.

The desolated village of Samaria set in the heart of the Samaria Gorge at 8. Writings of Homer document that Tarra where the modern site of Agia Roumeli is found today was one of the cities of Crete — with its own coins and a prominent wood exporting industry, the city had close ties with ancient Egypt, Mycenae, Knossos and Troy — supplying wood for the construction of palaces and ships.

Major events in Cretan history took place in the vicinity of the Samaria gorge. Under the Venetian ruling during the 14th century, members of the Skordilis family from Hora Sfakion moved to the village of Samaria. The story has it that the commander of the Venetian ruling had his eyes set for the charming Chryssomaloussa who had resisted his kiss — he in return chopped off one of her locks with his sword.

Due to this incident a battle resulted between the two parties — with the Skordilis family escaping to the secluded village of Samaria. The Venetians failed to enter the village and as a result they had to make peace. A church dedicated to Ossia Maria was constructed here by the Venetians in Maria was known as the Mary of Egypt — she was an Egyptian courtesan who mostly lived in the desert. The Saint Mary of Egypt is celebrated in this church on 1st of April, however the Orthodox church also commemorates the saint on the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

For those who do find themselves here on the first weekend of April can participate in a two day festival which is held here in her honour. The Gorge of Samaria was the scene of numerous battles which took place here between the Greeks and the Turks. During an uprising of led by Daskalogiannis of Anopolis, women and children took refuge is the gorge. The Samaria Gorge is a major tourist attraction in Crete , second most popular after the Palace of Knossos.

Samaria Gorge is a paradise for biodiversity — home to species of Cretan flora out of which 70 are endemic meaning that they grown only in a gorge. Hiking in Samaria Gorge is a rewarding experience which can last somewhere between hours depending on the pace. The hike commences at Xyloskalo the famous location of the Omalos plateau 1. You must have with you something to eat, since there are no shops inside the Gorge of Samaria.

You must have water with you, but since there are several springs inside the Gorge you can refill your bottle. There are toilets in several places along the path. You must dispose your litter only in the waste bins that you will find along your way. Here is a brief hiking map: As you walk downhill, you will come across the church of St. Nikolas, built on the ruins of an ancient temple. Half way down the gorge lies the old village of Samaria; its few houses are now used by the park wardens. Keep walking.

The steep cliffs here tower as high as m above sea level. This route also goes past Venetian castles and ruins of prehistoric settlements as well as remnants of many other historical periods.

Agia Roumeli Agia Roumeli is a small coastal village that you reach after walking through the Samaria Gorge. From here a frequent boat service will take you directly to Loutro and Hora Sfakion. The ancient Greek site of Tara, is on the left east hill as you exit the gorge.

Many of the finds from Tara are housed in the Archaeological Museum of Chania. At this resting stop, you can visit the small church of Agios Nikolaos. You will also find drinking water and toilet. From now on the road is not so downhill but it has a lot of big rocks. The 6th stop 1. It is the biggest resting stop and it lies in the middle of the route.

Here you will find drinking water, toilets and a first aid station. There you will also see Cretan wild goats Kri Kri. After 1. On the last part of your journey 2.

At the exit of the gorge of Samaria, you will have walked 13km. You need to walk 3 more in order to get to Agia Roumeli village. Head straight to the beach and have a refreshing swim in the Libyan sea.

Most people need somewhere between 4 to 8 hours to walk the gorge of Samaria. We made it in 4 but we were walking fast. It is recommended to do it at your own pace. My boyfriend on the other hand, was fine. It was a wonderful experience and I would do it again. Samaria Gorge is a haven for biodiversity with more than species and subspecies of flora and species of fauna, many endemic to the Samaria Gorge, which creates 21 types of habitat within the gorge.

Birds include the Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos , buzzard, and the rare Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus , along with many smaller bird species whilst the Mediterranean Monk Seal Monachus monachus can be found in the sea caves on the south coast of the National Park. Endemic plants include the Cretan zelkova tree Zelkova abelicea and the flowering plant Bupleurum kakiskalae with the Samaria Gorge containing one-third of the known 1, species and subspecies of Cretan flora.

New species are still being discovered and recorded, the endemic perennial chasmophyte plant Anthemis samariensis only discovered in The now deserted village of Samaria, which is the main stopping point on the hike, was inhabited as far back as the Byzantine period with the Agios Nikolaos chapel seen today originally a sanctuary of Apollon, archaeologists finding votive offerings and terracotta fragments nearby.

Legend has it that in the 14th century, the Skordilis family descendants of 1 of the 12 aristocratic Byzantine families moved to the village of Samaria from Hora Sfakia after avenging a commander of the Venetian guard who had tried to kiss a beautiful young girl called Chryssomaloussa think of a Greek Goldilocks!

She had resisted the assault and the guard cut off a lock of her hair with his sword. The men of the Skordilis family avenged the insult by wiping out the whole of the Venetian garrison including their commander.

The men fled to Samaria with more Venetians trying to enter the gorge to punish the Skordilis family for their act but without success. Eventually, an uneasy truce was made between the family and the Venetians with Chryssomaloussa becoming a nun in the convent of the Blessed Mary of Egypt Ossia Maria that was built in Samaria in by the Venetians. The modern village of Agia Roumeli was once one of the cities of Crete. Known as Tarra then, Homer documented that the small yet independent city had its own coins during the 3rd and 2nd Century B.

Featuring a Cretan goat and a prominent wood exporting business which ensured its close ties with the cities of Knossos, Troy, and Mycenae who used the wood for shipbuilding and the construction of palaces. The Turks were forced to retreat due to the stout resistance of Giannis Bonatos and his men who held the Gates keeping the women and children safe.

In all of Greece rose in revolt against the Ottoman Empire but it was unsuccessful in Crete with the defeated revolutionaries forced to retreat back to Samaria Gorge where the Turks, despite their many attempts, could not capture them. Samaria featured center stage in the Great Revolt of when the gorge and the village of Agia Roumeli were mustering points, supplies being sent from the mainland with supply warehouses on the shore at Agia Roumeli which were later destroyed when 3 warships were sent by Mustafa Pasha to bomb them, 4, Ottoman troops landing on the island in with the Greeks forced to barricade themselves in Samaria Gorge.

The troops failed to gain entry to the gorge so set fire to Agia Roumeli instead. In WWII, the gorge again became a hiding place and an escape route for the retreating Allied troops who were able to dispatch information by radio from the gorge to the Middle East. It was also an escape route for the Greek royal family, who had fled to Crete for safety, they were led through Samaria Gorge and evacuated safely to Egypt.

Samaria Gorge became a national park in December to protect the Cretan Ibex, the inhabitants of the small village of Samaria having to be relocated.

I totally recommend that you have lunch at the village of Agia Roumeli in a taverna called Rousios. It is not on the seafront but is a wonderful traditional tavern with incredible food.