By John Freedman Originally posted elsewhere August 18, 2019
Reposted on Contemplating Crete April 13, 2021
Almyrida is a picturesque little resort town about a 20-minute drive east of Chania. It’s located on the Apokoronas (apokOronas) peninsula on the south entrance to Souda Bay. My wife and I often go there for dinner at one of the seaside restaurants (our favorite is Tsunami, but there are many), and we always feel while there that we have been granted a few hours in paradise. At first one might think it is a one-horse town, to use the old phrase, but it probably would fit two or even three if necessary. There are two main beaches, one being pebbles, the other being sandy. The water washing the sandy shore is extremely calm. The pebble beach on the other side of a small extrusion catches a little more open sea, so there may be some swells there, but both beaches are the epitome of the family beach. According to legend the Phoenicians were the original settlers here, and there apparently are some ancient ruins scattered around the territory (I have not reached them yet). This was also the site of the last battle between the Turks and the Cretans in 1896. Spectacular sunsets are a pretty common occurance on Crete, but there is something about Almyrida that makes the sunset hour especially magical.
All text and photos © 2019 John Freedman. If you wish to reproduce, repost or use any of the text or any photo, please ask for permission. Renewal of copyright © 2012 John Freedman.
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