General Information of the Municipal Unit of Vamos

It is a semi-mountainous area with a diverse and interesting natural environment, where the local wooded and shrubby vegetation dominates but is also characterized by its rich architectural heritage. More specifically, the area is scattered with small settlements, most of which are old. The climate is dry and hot and all the vegetation is adapted to it. However, in recent years, with various programs, the irrigated area is increasing. The coastal zone of the Municipal unit is rocky and steep and due to its special beauty has been designated as protected by the Natura 2000 program. Due to all the above reasons, the area is suitable for forms of mild tourist development, which has already begun to appear strongly in Plaka and Almyrida but also on a smaller scale in Vamos, Gavalochori and the other villages. The effort that aims at this kind of tourism development and ensures the protection of the physiognomy of the area, is already the guideline in the operation of the new municipal authority. The established Environmental Education Center of the prefecture of Chania, in the old school of Kefalas, is the skeleton on which the development of the wider area can be based, if its functions and actions are properly disseminated throughout the territory of the Municipal unit. On the positive side of the area, we consider the characterization of Gavalochori and the surrounding small settlements as protected from the past, while recently the characterization of Vamos, as a traditional settlement, was requested.

HISTORICAL FOLKLORE MUSEUM OF GAVALOCHORI The Historical Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is housed in a building of the former Community of Gavalochori which is a typical example of local traditional architecture and is developed on two levels. Ground floor with “beech” inner courtyard, vaulted house with auxiliary spaces, floor with beings. Part of the building was built during the Venetian occupation, and the floor was built during the Turkish occupation. It was used as a residence until the end of the last century. In the community of Gavalochori, it was donated by the heirs of its last occupants, the couple Georgiou and Maria Stylianaki. The restoration of the building was carried out by the IMP Crete program and the exhibition of the objects by the SPA program. The recording, maintenance and assistance in the exhibition of the objects, was carried out with the funding and care of the Directorate of Popular Culture, of the Ministry of Culture. The exhibition of the objects is done according to the modern museological concept with explanatory objects, photographs, drawings, models and is enriched every year with new exhibits. The purpose of the Museum is the collection, protection and research of the objects of the cultural tradition of the place. His exhibits are categorized based on the following thematic units: vault house, silk, pottery, copaneli, lithotomy-lithoxic, wood-sculpture-iconography, weapons-coins-historical illustration. The Museum implements an educational program for primary school students, designed under the supervision and supervision of the “MELINA-Education and Culture” program.

VΑΜΟΥ.
(Vamos, Douliana,)
Vamos, the capital of the province of Apokoronas and formerly of the prefecture of Sfakion, and today the seat of the new municipality, is a particularly interesting settlement, which has been proposed for characterization as traditional, by the Ministry of Environment. It has a semi-urban character, and is maintained in very good condition, with elements of folk and neoclassical architecture (cultural center). The initiative of a group of residents to create a company that deals with the protection of the settlement, and with general agritourism activities, already gives results, and is the model for the overall development of the newly established municipality. They try and succeed famously to make all its visitors friends of Vamos. They “enchant” them with the beauty of their village (alley), as it lies green (Vamos Grove) and calm under Madares, with their warm hospitality, with their traditional cafes, with the beautiful old buildings, where for the everyone will tell you a story, with their beautiful uphill cobbled streets. And then, under the pretext of their famous brilliant artistic and cultural events, he gathers all his friends, to host them, to entertain them, to thank them. In Vamos, the newer churches of Agios Nikolaos and Georgios are of interest, with the restored Old School (1863) in its courtyard, the building of the old Girl’s School, which has been restored and is used as a community hostel. Vamos was a theater of military operations, both in 1866 and in 1896. The events of Vamos in 1896, had a great impact abroad and was the reason for the General Revolutionary Assembly of the Cretans (post-government committee chaired by Rousso Koundouros ) which then met in Vamos, aiming at the self-determination of Crete. (hero).

It is really worth visiting Vamos. “The male capital (O Vamos) of the only male province (O Apokoronas) in Greece” as his mayor likes to say. It is worthwhile for you to be one of the “initiates”, the friends of Vamos.

In the wider area of ​​Vamos, at the site of the Venetian village of Karydi Kartsomado, the ruins of the small Monastery of Panagia in Katomeri are preserved, with a single-aisled church painted in the 13th century. Opposite the site of the also Venetian village Karydi of Agios Georgios, there is a Venetian villa and other buildings of the village and the large Metochi of Agios Georgios, which now functions as a Monastery, and is the most interesting complex of folk architecture in the prefecture of Chania. Buildings, such as the large olive mill, can be restored, and become a living Agricultural Museum, or house events of wider significance. Douliana is a small settlement, which belongs to the community of Vamos. It is built on a hill, in a beautiful natural environment, and with interesting architecture. It is a declared settlement and retains its character more than any other settlement. Many foreigners live permanently in the village and the locals have a developed sensitivity to issues related to the preservation of the settlement.

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT KEFALA
(Kefalas-Palailoni-Drapano)
East of Vamos, and at a distance of about 4 km, we find the settlement of Kefalas. Apano and Kato Kefalas refer to the years of Venetian rule as two separate villages, which today have been united. It is a large village, built in an impressive position towards the sea with a strong architectural character, of the years of the early and late Ottoman rule, quite well preserved, despite the “disagreements” that exist. The church of the Holy Cross (16th century), is the oldest building of the village and the newer churches of Panagia, Ag. Antoniou, by Michael Archangelos, works of the famous cephalonian craftsmen are samples of folk architecture of the 19th century. Also the work of the same craftsmen is the “Primary School of Kefala” in which it is planned by the Prefecture of Chania to house the Environmental Education Center of the Prefecture, an institution that will play a key role in the development of the municipality of Vamos. The settlements of Palailoni and Drapano, towards the side of Kokkino Chorio, are also interesting. From Palailoni the road leads to Emprosgialos, a relatively gentle place on the steep beaches that extend to Georgioupolis.

MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT OF GAVALOHORI
(Gavalochori- Agios Pavlos- Aspro- Agios Vassilios)
From Vamos, a road leads to Gavalochori. On a hill, is built the small village of Aspro (Koprana) with buildings of the 18th century, which for the most part is inhabited by foreigners. Gavalochori is a large old village, with particularly interesting folk architecture, which is maintained in very good condition. In the settlement that is protected as traditional, many interesting buildings are preserved, such as a two-aisled vaulted olive mill (18th century), the temples of Panagia, and Agios Sergios, the old school, and many houses. Here is the only Folklore Museum organized by the Ministry of Culture of the prefecture of Chania, with rich exhibits related to popular life. The landscape around the village retains its natural beauty, and there are many places to walk, such as the complex of wells, the years of Venetian rule, the Roman cemetery, the neighborhood, and the church of St. Paul. In Gavalochori there is a Women’s Cooperative that deals with the old art of lace making (“kopaneli”) and in general with Agrotourism activities. Gavalochori can be used for education in the anthropogenic environment, and activities in the under establishment Environmental Education Center.

MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT OF PLAKA
(Plaka – Almyrida – Caterpillar)
Continuing from Kalyves, the road branches off towards Almyrida. After Kastelli, we meet the old monastery of Panagia Kera, with a beautiful small beach, while towards Gavalochori, parts of the old public road, with an arched bridge, and the outpost for tax are preserved. ALMYRIDA, a small fishing village, a few years ago, is evolving into a tourist resort, for which, the municipality of Vamos, will have to pay special attention. At the entrance of the settlement, the ruins of a three-aisled, early Christian basilica, of the 6th AD, have been excavated by the 13th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities. century, with excellent quality and preservation mosaic floors, which have been preserved. On the hill of Finikia, above the place of the basilica, the ruins of a Greco-Roman city are preserved, such as on the small islet of Karga, a short distance from Almyrida. The village of Plaka is built on a hillside overlooking the bay of Souda. It is a settlement with interesting folk architecture, which however has begun to deteriorate from the intense construction activity, mainly of buildings for tourist use. The surrounding natural environment retains its character quite well and is suitable for walks both inland and towards the sea. Plaka retains its traditional character, where it should be protected and there should be architectural control in the new buildings, so as not to continue the alteration of the space. In Plaka, every summer, there are events of Cretan music, Plakiana, in honor of Michalis Papadakis, Plakianos, a good lyricist of recent years.

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF RED VILLAGE
Kokkino Chorio is built even higher, and retains more of its traditional architectural character with its narrow streets, beautiful gates, and tiled roofs. In a sloping field, a group of cisterns collect rainwater, an interesting example of local architecture, thus tackling the permanent problem of water scarcity. Above Kokkino Chorio, there is the peculiar hill Drapanokefala, Calapodha (in Venetian rule) and the sea area northwest of the village, it is extremely interesting for a tour with the landscaping, and the caves, such as Petsis the cave (the cave) . In the center of the village there is also the usable cave “Accommodation”. Also in the Red Village, at Cape Drepano, at a depth of about 10 meters at the bottom of the sea, is the impressive “Cave of the Elephants”, a room 60×60 full of stalactites and stalagmites of various sizes and colors.

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF KALAMITSI ALEXANDROS
• Panoramic
• Old arch 8 km from Vamos, is the small settlement of Kalamitsi Alexandrou, an old and well-preserved village with narrow streets, the large newer cruciform with dome church of Agia Triada, and an impressive underground reservoir for its construction Turkish occupation “the Soft”.

MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF KAINA
From Vamos, a road to the southwest, leads through the well-preserved settlement of Tsikoliana, to the also interesting village of Kaina with many buildings from the years of Ottoman rule. Outside the small settlement, Gennitsari Metochi, or Platanos is the 14th century frescoed church of Agios Antonios, the beautiful location of Sopotos, and on the highway, the small church of Agios Fanourios, which is a large pilgrimage site and interesting religious events. . From Kaina, there is another access to the municipality of Vamos, via the national road, and a connection to the mountainous area of ​​the municipality of Fre.

XIROSTERNI MUNICIPAL DISTRICT
(Xerosterni- Litsarda)
From Vamos, the road continues east and passes through a group of small villages, integrated in a wonderful natural environment, and with very well preserved local folk architecture To Xerosterni, built around. from the interesting church of Christ, in honor of which a genuine folk festival takes place on the 5th and 6th of August, retains better than any other village, its traditional character, with many old houses. Then the road leads to Litsarda, passing by the exploitable cave “of Daphne the hole”, with archeological interest. The settlement, with serious alterations, is remarkable, as well as the church of Panagia, with a good wood-carved iconostasis and icons of Rethymiotis A. Vivylakis.

MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT OF SELLIA
(Sellia- Souri- Likotynara)
The settlement of Pano and Kato Selia, is built on the slope of a hill in the green, with interesting examples of folk architecture, as well as the older settlement of Souri, with the neoclassical church of Ag. John the Theologian. Also of interest are the beaches on the Likotinara side, with the steep “Gremna” and the rich, native vegetation that has been included together with the wider area in the Community Directive Natura 2000. Kefalas and the opposite communities of Selia and Xirosterni, surround a large formation, (dolini), Roupakia or Orpakia, an area with rich forest vegetation and old agricultural activities (roads, dry stones, stone-built farmhouses, cisterns and other facilities), rich flora and fauna. The promotion of this area of ​​natural beauty is included in the proposals for environmental education.