TAVRONITIS
Tavronitis is a charming coastal village community, west of Maleme on the way to Kolimbari; tourism here is pretty low key but you will still find plenty of seaside amenities including mini-markets, a butcher’s, a bakery and a patisserie. A few tavernas line the quiet beach that stretches towards Kolimbari in the west and Maleme to the east. You can take the road south from here enjoying a spectacular drive over the mountains to Paleohora on the south coast.
Tavronitis is located approximately 20 kms from the Venetian town of Chania to the area West of Crete.
A short stroll through the heart of the village where many of the local live, brings you to the shingle and pebble beach. Here you can walk along the tree lined sea front, stopping at one of the small "kantenas" for a drink or snack or enjoy a meal at one of the traditional tavernas.
Visit the famous Tavronitis bridge, the scene of a key fight in the Battle of Crete and the nearby war memorial and German War Cemetery in the village of Maleme next door. Here, on the now disused airfield where the German invasion of Crete took place in 1941, you will find a small number of old aircraft and the scene of an annual commemorative event.
In recent years Tavronitis and the surrounding area has become a popular location with ex pats of all nationalities. It is an ideal base to explore the western most part of Crete including the beaches at Paleochora, Elafonisi and Falassarna, as well as monasteries, gorges and the island of Gramvoussa with the remains of an old fort.
The Venetian town of Chania to the West and the historic town of Kissamos-Kastelli to the east can be reached in around 20 minutes.
