APOKORONAS / CHANIA

   The historical village of Gavalochori is situated just 4 km south of the village of Almirida and was named after the Byzantine family Gavalodon who lived there in about 1200 AD. Many houses of the Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish eras continue to exist and are still in good condition.

   Worth mentioning are a two-storey Arabic building and the old olive factory with its Venetian arches, still in good condition. Many archaeological finds from the Neolithic as well as from Minoan age have been made. Double axes from the Minoan period found in the vicinity of Agios Pavlos Church are just one example. Three Roman tombs have been found about 1,5 km above the village. When the archaeological excavations continue, certainly more tombs will be found. Gavalochori has many interesting churches providing proof of a large community.

   In the centre of the village is also a shop exhibiting the traditional arts and craftwork of the local women, who devote a lot of their time to the breeding of silkworms and the processing and spinning of silk. Unique for a small community the size of Gavalochori is an extensive library and a beautiful museum of archaeological as well as folkloristic treasures housed in a building of Venetian and Turkish origin.

   At the village square a traditional cafenion and taverna invite you to sit and pass the time away

   Perched on a small hill overlooking Gavalochori is the chapel of Agios Georgos. Just in front of the chapel, hidden under old plane trees are mysterious igloo-shaped stone wells, dating back to the 11th century, and a bridge from the Venetian era (1204 - 1669). Several pieces of pottery have been found in these wells. Nobody knows how they came to be there. This pottery can now be seen in the museum. A pleasant walk of 10 minutes through the Cretan landscape will bring you to the location.