Psichro

Ai-Giannis is built a few km above the coastal village of Koutsounari.
A lovely village to visit, very close to Ierapetra, and a short distance from the sea. The view is unique, while constantly being village mainly by Europeans but also Greek descendants of its former inhabitants.

The eastern end of the long beach area in the village of Koutsounari.
The large beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of ierapetra, on the site of Agios Ioannis
In 1583 the Venetians had record it as San Zuanne, with a population of 157 inhabitants, but had to arrive in 1940 to reach Agios Ioannis in his heyday with 752 inhabitants. With the end of WW II, the villagers of Agios Ioannis began a gradual descent to the sea and with ally the fertile soil and the gorgeous coast began on the other hand a more systematic agricultural exploitation of the land eyforoy and the rapid rise in tourism to lead eventually to the creation of the Fermwn and of Koutsounari Agia Fotia, three new communities (their first recording in the Census of 1961) , currently listing over 1000 inhabitants hosting modern and multidimensional tourist installations.
AI giannis, breast community village, can on paper seem dilapidated, (only 8 residents recorded in the Census of 2011), but the reality shows how beautiful this village anything but a phase of decline is experiencing. Residents may not stay there permanently, but the village has not abandoned.
Water is what I stated and continues to define the identity of the community of St. John. The road, starts from the top of afentis Christos, passes from valuable sources of Psichros (like today sypply with drinking water the Ierapetra from antiquity), giving life to the mountain, sculpturing the rocks, creating a unique natural scenery of rare beauty that hardly one encounters in Crete. The easily accessible and especially Miller's impressive waterfall with water poured from 40 meters is a reference point with the water to run until the middle of summer.
The beaches are the second diamond of the region. Whether we are talking about the massive "Megali Paralia" at Koutsounari, either for the lush beaches of Fermwn with the rocks that ooze, either for the famous Agia Fotia, a, generally speaking, of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Greece which thousands passing from their waters during summer, it is certain that St. John can satisfy every requirement. Do not hesitate to ask the locals for the lesser-known beaches of the region with no lag on anything from the previous ones.

Combining the beauty of the mountain and the sea, the local community Shinokapsalo stands out for the impressive mountainous terrain and the beaches communities Achliwn, Black Kolympoy and Serenity. Climbing the slopes of Thriftis and crossing a unique-smothered in pine-journey, we meet the Schinokapsala at an altitude of 432 meters.

Village built amphitheatrically, with unobstructed views of the Libyan Sea. The waters of the region offer in Schoinokapsala a very rich vegetation, with pine forest Livadakia dominates in the North of the village, ideal for walking excursions. The population of the village is 87 inhabitants (census 2011), 162 inhabitants (census of 1583)

The history of the village begins from old-the Venetian census of 1583 record 162 inhabitants-according to legend, the name derives from the adventures of the first settler, who lived in a cave where the protected skinoi (plants), sometime after the fire burned skinoi and kapsalismeno landscape with the ashes of their burned and trunks which remained, was it which featured and eventually onomatodotise the region. Later the village was deserted but not the highly fertile soils, which are used mostly by residents of the mountain. These were verse and at the end of 1928 (where is the next demographic record with 165 inhabitants) and epeitao their population began to grow rapidly. The new-standalone from the Mountain-Community arrived in its heyday, the decades of the 60 ' and 70 ' where the region's elementary school had over 100 guys, with the village and the lot then the cafes of throb of life.
The number of habitants has been significantly reduced, but the beauty of the village and the wonderful climate, have caused the interest of many and not few most foreigners either permanently or seasonally choose life in Schinokapsala, buying homes and land.
The historical Cafe that operates over 50 years offers local and traditional delicacies while the village and rooms. Worth a look for the local bottling wine, exceptional quality.
In Schinokapsala there are many notable churches with that of Agios Georgios in which kept striking frescoes, stands out in the South of the village.
Now there are many habitants of Schinokapsala who have moved to the coast, creating communities and Achlia, Mavros Kolymbos, known for its tourist infrastructure, and of course beautiful beaches. The beach of Achliwn is one that gathers crowds in summers, with the cultural association organises each year the popular beach volley tournament in early July. The wild rocky landscape with the dark pebbles and the calm black, in points. water feature Black Kolympoy beach. The Peace as is evident from its name is characterised by the quiet environment, while there are also some beautiful but inaccessible beaches that deserve attention.