Hora Sfakion
Sfakia (Greek Χώρα Σφακίων ( f sg ), also transcribed Sphakion Chora ) is a coastal town in the south of the island of Crete with a small harbor on the Libyan Sea. He had 2001 212 inhabitants and is the capital of the historical region and the church today ( Dimos ) Sfakia.
Geography
Sfakia located in the south western Crete at the Libyan Sea, one kilometer west of the output of Sfakiano Gorge. The " center " of the village with tavernas, some hotels and shops located directly at the old port, the other districts are on the up near the sea sloping foothills of the White Mountains, the, White Mountains '.
History
In the Middle Ages it was known as Omprosgialos. Sfakia was one of the centers of the Cretan resistance against foreign invaders ( Venetians, Turks and most recently the Germans during the Second World War ).
From here, after the Airborne Battle of Crete end of May 1941, disembarked more than 10,000 Allied soldiers to Egypt. When special undertakings League of Nations 25 Cretans were shot in September 1941 for its support of the Allied soldiers and due to resistance against the German occupation in Sfakia.
The Sfakiots, the inhabitants of the region, is still considered to be particularly proud, rough and bold.
Economy and infrastructure
Main industry is tourism, beside still fishing and sheep and goats. Since sfakiotische baked goods are also in demand on the mainland and abroad, 2007, a great bakery was built in the place which is to produce for the national needs. The local tavernas live mainly on passage and hiking tourists. Some of them are visitors of Samaria, which are brought by ship to or from there (via Agia Roumeli ). Other famous canyons near the Imbros Gorge in the east and the Aradena gorge in the west. There is a small beach at the location ( Vryssi - beach ) and some more in the area, for example, at the output of Ilingias Gorge and Sfakia and Loutro between ( Glyka Nera ). The latter can only be reached by boat or on foot.
Traffic
There is a spectacular, very busy in summer mountain pass to the north ( Chania), a road along the coast eastwards over Frangokastello and Sellia to Rethymno and in the Messara and a winding road in a westerly direction up to the place Anopolis and Aradena bridge to Agios Ioannis.
The two Südküstenorte Agia Roumeli and Loutro are accessible from Sfakia on foot ( on the European path E4 ) or by ferry. To the island of Gavdos, there is also a ferry service in the summer. Since 2005, a major port has been taken east of the place into operation, which now offers very good protection against bad weather from all directions. The construction costs of 5.6 million euro was financed 75% by the EU.