CHANIA

   On the south west coast the small town of Paleochora is built on a peninsula leading out to a small hill on which the Venetians built the Castle 'Selino' in the 13th century. On one side of the peninsula is a shingle beach and on the other a beautiful long and sandy beach fringed by tamarind trees.

   In the labyrinth of narrow back streets below the Castro (the old Venetian fort) you get a real glimpse of traditional Cretan life and the ruins of the old castle offer a fantastic view all over the village.

   Paleochora also has a good range of shops and at the quayside by the town centre cafes are ideally situated for watching the comings and goings of the local fishermen. In the evenings during the summer season the main street is closed to traffic and the owners of the village tavernas place their tables and chairs even further into the narrow main street where you can wine and dine. Only a few steps away from the main street, where tables are set romantically by the water's edge, you can eat and drink overlooking the sea.

   Paleochora is also an ideal starting place for exploring the attractive surrounding areas, whether you decide to look at the many frescoes in the Byzantine churches, walk along the coast in either direction to discover more beaches and coves or into the mountains to the villages and through gorges down to the beach.