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A fantastic journey throughout the North White western side of the White Mountains ends at the plateau of Omalos.

The very first village we come to, is Fournes, rich in orange trees and next is the town Laki, the last town before the plateau. Laki is a historic village, which has actually played a fundamental part in all the Cretan revolutions (1821-1866). Going up the hill at an altitude of 1080 metres we reach the plateau of Omalos, which has the shape of an irregular circle and is surrounded by high, amazing mountains. The plateau, due to its natural stronghold, has always been a refuge during all the crucial revolutions of Crete.

At the entrance of the plateau there are little stone homes inhabited just during the summertime. There is likewise the church of St. Panteleimon where we have the grave of the hero of the 1821 revolution versus the Turks, Hatzimichalis Yiannaris.

On the South part of the plateau You can see Xiloskalo from where the descent begins towards the gorge of Samaria.

It is the biggest and most imposing ravine in Europe. It spreads 18 kilometers in length from the position Xiloskalo and ends at St Roumeli in the Libyan Sea. Its crossing is only possible throughout the summer season months. We start the descent from Xiloskalo, (altitude 1200 metres), where the visitor remains transported by the grandeur and the wildness of the landscape, in addition to the orgiastic plants. After 4 to 5 Kilometres we come to the church of' St Nicholas. On this site a small agricultural sanctuary was found recently. After that we concern the town Samaria, a little settlement of woodcutters, which was deserted in 1965. A few of the homes have been fixed by the Forestry authorities and are used as hostels. After the village of Samaria we concern the Byzantine church of' the Sacred Mary of' Egypt. On the iconostassio (1740) the Spiritual Virgin is portrayed getting the Holy communion from St Zossima. Continuing we reach Fortes, the most outstanding part of the ravine where its width is restricted at some point to only 3 metres. After Porter, which is also the exit of the gorge, we reach St Roumeli. The little village is developed on the ruins of ancient Tarra. Terra is discussed by lots of ancient authors as a little but strong and independent town. It had its own currency coins which on one side portrayed the Cretan mountain goat and an arrow and on the other side a bee. Tarra, together with the other important towns of Northwestern Crete, Elyro and Yrtakina, had actually made a nomismatical treaty. After the conquest of Crete by the dorians, it is pointed out as a big religious centre with big temples, mainly of Apollo and the Vritomartis Diana. On the website of the temple during the period of Venetian rule a church of the Virgin Mary was developed with the products of the ancient temple. The local discovers testify that the city thrived generally in the Hellenistic and Roman period. St Roumeli is connected with Sfakia, Loutro and Souyia just by ship.

In Between St Roumeli and Sfakia it deserves visiting the little seaside picturesque town Loutro. Here there used to he the ancient town Phinikas, port of Anopolis, which was amphitheatrically developed towards the shore. The foundations of structures and risen tanks make it through up to now.

Loutro is also priced quote in the first Byzantine duration (330-824 A.d.) as a bishops seat.

SFAKIA is the capital of the province, constructed amphitheatrically, towards the Libyan Sea. There are no indications of habitation in ancient times. Just the Venetian castle of' the 15th and 16th centuries survives, and it was called Sfakia or Sfachia and hence the entire province took its name. The fortress was utilized as the residence of the Providore, (administrative leader in the years of Venetian dominion).

It was renovated and used by the Turks. Owing to the barren soil the occupants main occupation was navigation, and commerce. After the destruction by the Turks, Sfakia goes through a period of decay (1821 ).

ANOPOLIS is positioned twelve kilometres northwest of Sfakia. The village is developed on the site of ancient Anopolis. Cyclopian walls of Pelasgic origin make it through in the settlement Riza.

It was well-known during the Hellenistic period, however it flourished chiefly during the Roman and Byzantine period. In the first centuries of Venetian dominion, Anopolis was the centre of' resistance against the Venetians. After 1365 and the repression of the disobedience of Kalergi, the entire town was destroyed and the inhabitants spread out to other districts.

In the beginning of Turkish dominion it was re-inhabited and the population, utilizing Loutro as a base, became primarily navigators.

ARADENA On the Western side of the homonymous ravine we find the deserted town of Aradena. Here existed the ancient town Aradin or Iradin, ruins which make it through near the village. It is believed that it was established by Phoenicians. Its name is connected to the Phoenecian word Aruad, which implies sanctuary. A homonymous city existed likewise in Phoeniki. We can see the Byzantine church of the Archangel Michael, of the 14th-15th century which was built on the eastern section of the main aisle of the three-aided older basilica of the 5th or Sixth century. During the duration of the Turkish dominion many clashes in between the Turkish conquerors and the Cretans occurred.

ST. JOHN is a little town at a high elevation where we can see the churches of St John and of the Virgin Mary with lovely wall-paintings.

To the sea, we can see the church of St Paul also with wonderful wall-paintings where there is a spring of fresh water where, according to tradition, St Paul, baptised pagans while checking out Crete.

On the East of Sfakia and near the sea there is the district of Francocastello where a Venetian castle stands. It's shape is rectangular with a square-shaped tower at each corner.

On its gate there is a relief' of' the lion of St Mark and on the left and ideal Venetian crowns. The inner buildings and the loopholes are built by the Turks.

Under the building there are vestiges of the church of St Mark.

Near the fortress to the sea the church of St Haralambus makes it through in ruins as well as the extremely old church of St Nikita with wall-paintings which are extinct. Here in the old days excellent celebrations happened and the people from Sfakia danced completely armour to show their war capabilities. Today the custom-made is restored during the celebration in favour of St Nikita (15th September).

The fortress began being developed circa 1340 and the Venetians named it the Castle of St Nikita. The individuals of Sfakia nevertheless, considering it foreign, called it Francocastello, namely castle of the Francs - a name which has prevailed approximately this day. The Venetians accepted it however they changed it into Castle Franco, specifically totally free and daring fortress. Throughout the duration of Turkish rule violent battles in between the Turks and the Cretans protectors took place. Francocastello is also related with a hitherto mysterious phenomenon. It is stated that throughout the second fortnight of Might, when windlessness prevails at sea, in the early morning hours, shadows are discovered in the area, which look like armed horse-riders, who ride from the church of St Haralambus to the Fortress. Individuals called them dewdrops due to the fact that the phenomenon takes place in the morning hours. Many analyze it as a mirage.

Going back to Hernia we go though the wild mountains of Sfakia, the excellent gorge of' Imbros and the homonymous town and come to Askifou. On the plateau on http://www.discovergreece.com/en/greek-islands/crete which the town is developed we see a Turkish castle. A couple of kilometers even more away we pass the ravine of Laghi of Katre. In this area many bloody fights both against the Venetians and the Turks took place as it makes up the only access to the town of the province of Sfakia.

As we descend we pertain to the plateau of Krapis and next to the really gorgeous and very green town Vrisses. Two kilometers after Vrisses we come out onto the National Road which signs up with Rethymnon to Hernia.

We believe that it would be more effective if the journey were made either as an arranged journey or a local bus as you cannot return to the Omalos if you choose to cross the ravine of Samaria.