Sougia

Soughia (Greek Σούγια, ( f sg ) ) is a village with 136 inhabitants in the regional district of Chania, on the southwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. Administratively Soughia forms together with the mountain villages Koustogerako ( Κουστογέρακο ) Livadas ( Λιβαδάς ) and Moni ( Μονή ) Soughia the village in the municipality of Anatoliko Selino the community Kandanos - Selino. All four villages have together 220 inhabitants.

Location

The small village is located at the output of Agia Irini Gorge and is surrounded by steep cliffs. The bed of a flowing only after heavy rains in winter torrent called " Lakos Zografou " boundary with the village to the east. The present village was built on and between the ruins of the ancient city Syia which was with Lisos one of the ports on the higher-lying large ancient city Elyros ( accepted for up to 16,000 inhabitants in the Roman period ). As the land mass of Western Crete has geotektonisch lifted conditionally since the turn of time in this region by about five meters ( in Soughia clearly visible at the former flux line on the rocks by the sea ) of the former port is fallen dry and partly belongs now built-up area. Today's small fishing harbor at the western end of the Soughia Bay is modern date.

History

The ancient Syia

The old name of the place " Syia " ( Συία also Συγία rare ) is probably from the ancient Greek word sys (, sow ') derived. The heyday of ancient Syias was in the Roman and early Byzantine years, its port enjoyed a good reputation. Parts of the ancient city east of the river bed to walk uphill. Among other things, the remains of two early Christian basilicas, Roman tombs, houses and walls can be seen. Presumably, the city was destroyed and depopulated by Saracens. Finds from Syia are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum in Chania. The mosaic floor of a standing in place of the present church third basilica from the 6th century is preserved and on display in the new church in the western part of the town.

Modern Times

The English traveler and archaeologist Robert Pashley describes the location Soughia 1835 as uninhabited. He already suspected that the found fields of ruins the remains of a harbor of ancient Elyros were, whose location was not identified with certainty at this time. He refers to a coastal description by an anonymous author from the Byzantine period.

In World War II German troops were stationed in Soughia, whereas the nearby mountain villages were regarded as a retreat point of the Cretan resistance. The formerly much more populous neighboring villages Koustogerako, Livadas and Moní were destroyed in retaliation for a prevented by resistance fighters firing squad and razed to the ground.

Traffic

The ferry from Paleochora to Agia Roumeli ( at the exit of the Samaria gorge ) and Sfakia makes a stop in Soughia. Twice a day there is a bus service to Chania. The narrow and winding road to Chania is currently bus -compatible extended (2008 /2009).

Soughia today

Because the whole sea area near the village is designated as Archaeological Zone, may be built in Soughia very limited on the access road to the north. The secluded location about 70 km south of Chania and the lack of soil, the advent of mass tourism so far prevented a larger scale. Nevertheless, there are places to stay in hostels or hotels and some tavernas on the beach promenade or in the place as well as two nightclubs. In addition to agriculture and fisheries, tourism is the most important economic factor. The whole bay is lined by Soughia from a pebble beach. The eastern part of this beach is one of the last in Crete, is tolerated in the wild camping.

Trails

A good hour walk leads from Soughia west to the ruins of the ancient port city Lisos along the path E4 Europe. From Lisos from the E4 continues to Paleochora. To the east, the E4 is divided into a coastal section to Agia Roumeli and a mountain section to Omalos plateau in the White Mountains. The migration of Soughia through the gorge of Agia Irini to the same village goes over 12 km through a landscape that is botanically and geologically similar to the Samaria Gorge.

Swell

• Robert Pashley, Travels in Crete, Cambridge, Pitt Press by John. W. Parker, 1837 (Google Books)
• Mediteraneo Editions: Crete, 2007, ISBN 978-960-8227-88-0
• Antonis G. Plymakis, The Gorge of Saint Irene