Vai (Crete)

The palm beach of Vai (actually: Palm forest of Vai, Greek Φοινικόδασος του Βάι ) is located on the east coast of the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete, in the bay of Grandes ( Ormos Grandes ). The Cretan Date Palm (Phoenix theophrasti ) Here is the largest natural palm grove in Europe. Named the beach is after the small village Vai one kilometers behind the coast.

After a Cretan legend of the palm grove arose from the fact that pirates who hid here after their raids, the nuclei of the fruits eaten threw away, from which palm trees grew. It is said to have evolved over centuries of palm forest. However, this is a unique, different from the genuine date palm palm tree whose fruits are rather inedible. Therefore, the legend is not tenable.

"Discovered" for tourism was Vai who retired in the 1970s from the remaining "old hippies " from Matala and Prevelis.

In the mid- 1970s, the tip Vai made ​​the rounds of backpackers throughout Europe, was from Vai a mixture of chaotic campsite and dump, after which the law enforcers responded rigorously. Vai has been fenced off and declared a nature reserve, Wildlife campers and the rest remaining there " hippies " sold by drastic methods. That did the unique biotope very good, the forest recovered, the beach was clean. Then "discovered" the new tourism Vai. The Palm beach that belongs to the estate of the monastery Toplou, saw its second "Run" as an attraction for day-trippers who arrive there daily with multiple buses. From the palm forest today is only a narrow strip of beach to walk on, the rest is not open to the public.

The palm beach today is a tourist stronghold of eastern Crete, with thousands of visitors every year. Nearest towns are Palekastro and Sitia.

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