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Σφακιά 
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Places near Church
In one of the most traditional regions of Crete, strict, unwritten moral and ethical laws are still in power. Most of the impressive houses of the village are nowadays destroyed, and evidence of the "battle" between the two families, are the 2 seperate cemeteries (one for each large family).
Ruins of the ancient Aradin are to be found near the village of Aradena. The road from Aradena leads on the the mountain village of Agios Ioannis where there are two more Byzantine churches.It is believed that it was founded by Phoenicians. Its name is related to the Phoenecian word Aruad, which means refuge. A homonymous city existed also in Phoeniki. The place is also famous, nowdays, because of the iron bridge which crosses the gorge of Aradena, nearby the village.
From the plateau of Anopolis one has an exceptional view of the south side of the Lefka Ori. Climbs of the highest peaks of the Lefka Ori, at 2,500 metres, start from here. The view of the mountains is particularly impressive in the spring when they are covered in snow. The area is protected from the north winds and it has very mild weather all winter. This area of the Lefka Ori is also famous for its rare wild flowers that can be seen in the spring.
The only road leading to Anopolis is the 12 km serpentines road from Hora Sfakion. The road was recently reconstracted. You can visit anopoli with a bus as well. The bus departs around 4.00pm from Hora Sfakion and returns from Anopolis at around 6.30am. You can also get a taxi from Hora Sfakion which will take you to Anopolis in 10 minutes.
About 2 km west of Anopolis, the abandoned village of Aradena offers beautiful examples of ancient Cretan architecture. The impressive gorge of Aradena is some 19 km west of Chora Sfakion on the road to Anopolis and Agios Ioannis. It starts from the southern slopes of the White Mountains, north of the abandoned village of Aradena and ends at the Libyan Sea near the beautiful beach of Marmara, a little west of Loutro.
Aradena is located in the western area of the gorge, at Sfakia. The gorge separates the plateau of Aradena with that of Anopolis, in the west of Agia Roumeli and near Agios Ioannis.
The ruins of ancient Araden are preserved at Passopetra location, near the village Aradena. It was independent city and it was one of the thirty cities of the often-cited decree.
The ancient necropolis is at Xenotafi location. Phoenix was the port of Aradena. It is believed that Phoenician colonisers established it and they link the name of the city with the Phoenician word Aruad, which means shelter. In Phoenicia, there was a city with the same name. Aradena was flourishing until the last centuries of Venetian dominion and the first century of the Turkish dominion. Its citizens were working on sailing and trading. In the Revolution of Daskalogiannis against the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, the village was utterly ruined.
To Aradaina, we can go via Chora Sfakion and Anopolis.
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