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Prefecture: Chania
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Orthi Ammos
Located on the south coast of the region of Chania, very close to Fragokastello fortress, there are three different beaches in the same area. In addition to the pebbly beach to the west and the family friendly beach in front of the castle, there is the "Orthi Ammos" sandy beach 500m east of the castle.
This beach you can find just a ten-minute stroll east of the castle. This is considered one of the best beaches in Crete. It is famous for the big sand hills and dunes that have been shaped and the crystal clear water. The beach is affected by South winds.
The beach is very quiet, in comparison to Frangokastelo that is directly next to it. However, there are a very few accommodation and food amenities, but no sunbeds and water sport services.
According to the legend, the sand of Orthi Ammos covered the unburried bodies of the 335 greek heroes that fought against Turks during the Battle of Frangokastello (17 May 1828). The spirits of these heroes are the legendary Drosoulites, the famous "ghosts" of Frangokastelo.
Frangokastello is the nearest village.
Places near Orthi Ammos
Near Frangokastello Castle in west Crete, Sfakia area, and south of the Early Christian Basilica of Agios Nikitas, is the small monastery of Agios Charalambos. The small church of Agios Charalambos stood here until the Gregorios the monk and Magdalene the nun settled here shortly before 1821.
Thanks to their efforts, the small church soon expanded and the Monastery of Agios Charalambos was founded. The front of the church was built using stone from the ruined basilica of Astratigos. The monastery church is surrounded by battlements. To the west is the two-storey complex of monks’ cells, a typical feature of local architecture.
The wooden icon screen and icons in the monastery church are particularly interesting. The skilled craftsman who worked on Agios Charalambos is conventionally called the “Painter of Frangokastello”.
The basilica of Aghios Nikitas is in the valley of Frangokastello of Sfakia, at a short distance from the coast of the Libyan Sea.
The basilica was built in the second half of the 6th century AD. It is an impressive 26 metres long, with a mosaic floor decorated with geometrical patterns and depictions of animals, mostly still preserved today. The floor is not in the customary style of Cretan mosaics.The basilica was abandoned when the Arab raids began. Many centuries later, during the Venetian period, materials from its ruins were used in the construction of the castle.In the 13th century, the present church was built on the ruins of the middle aisle of an early Christian basilica.
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