There is a place in Crete where the northern coast is in a straight line from the south by about 12 km. It is located less than 20 km east of Agios Nikolaos , between the small village of Pachia Ammos ( Παχειά Άμμος ) and Ierapetra , the fourth largest city in Crete. Besides being the narrowest point of the island, the roads that connect Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Ierapetra intersect here. Driving there, it is worth paying attention to the inconspicuous village of Pachia Ammos.
Going eastwards along the New National Road, right in front of the village, the road turns 180 degrees. After the bend, you suddenly see a beautiful fragment of the coast below, washed with azure water. This is Pachia Ammos, a small village lying on the northern coast of the narrowest part of the island. At the same time, it is the southernmost point of the picturesque Mirambello bay.
However, Pachia Ammos is not a typical crowded and lively tourist destination, which is not lacking in the north of Crete. It is a quiet place with few private guesthouses, but a few good tavernas. According to sources, the number of permanent residents here is about 500 people. There is a small harbor in the village itself, and along the entire village there is a sandy and rocky beach with a total length of 800 meters. However, the widest and sandiest part is at the western end of this town. It is also the best organized, clean and equipped with a small number of umbrellas and sunbeds.
However, if you do not find a free umbrella, the tamarisks growing here will also provide shade. A small breakwater built in the vicinity of the port protects this part of the beach from excessive waves, such as when strong northern winds blow. However, the rest of the beach is exposed to the wind, so the waves are much bigger too. So this piece of beach is not particularly popular.
Going further east, it is easy to notice that the coast is becoming more and more pebble and rocky and less beach-friendly. However, there are several benches here, so it's a good place to relax in isolation. Unfortunately, in this part of the beach, as we have already noticed many times, the waves bring a lot of plastic rubbish to the shore. As far as we know, the inhabitants have repeatedly organized campaigns during which they tried to collect this waste. Unfortunately, this effort never brings a lasting solution to the problem as the sea continues to apply new amounts of plastic packaging. It is a pity that this is the case here because the water has an exceptionally beautiful color, and the town itself has great potential.
Despite this drawback, we like to come here to watch and listen to the sea in complete peace for a while. If by some miracle the benches placed here were occupied, you can always sit in the shade of tamarisk trees to look at the sea waves and the stunning color of the water.
In Pahia Ammos, it is also worth paying attention to the local taverns, which are located along the boulevard along the coast. Apart from the fact that you can eat really tasty Cretan dishes here, the proximity of the rustling sea is an additional bonus. It is a fantastic place both for cooling down during a hot day and for a unique atmosphere in the evening. We highly recommend not only having a meze or coffee here, but also an evening dinner and a more varied meal.
In the past, Pachia Ammos played an important role in moving goods from Europe to North Africa. It was a key port, a gateway to the inland route through which goods were transported further south. The location of this port was much more convenient and safer for ships than those on the east coast of the island.
There are no monuments in Pachia Ammos itself, with the exception of the small church of Agia Fotini located on the eastern part of the coast, whose red roof and white facade catch the eye even from a distance. However, in the vicinity of this town there are important excavations, such as the small Vasiliki or the ancient city of Gournia .
South-east of the village of Pachia Ammos on the road to Ierapetra is the impressive Ha Canyon, which is home to many species of Cretan flora and fauna and a paradise for experienced canyoning enthusiasts. Characteristically, the cracked rocks are visible even from a distance.
The easiest way to reach Pachia Ammos is by car, KTEL buses going to Sitia or Ierapetra also have a stop here.
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Muszę przyznać, że z wielką radością po raz drugi odkrywam Waszą stronę! Pierwszy raz w 2009 roku! Nie mogłam się wtedy naczytać Waszego bloga, sama zbierałam się do przeprowadzki gdzieś do ciepłych krajów. A potem też się przeprowadziliśmy i sama zaczęłam pisać - z Gibraltaru! Właśnie wracam z moim blogiem, a kilku dni temu Facebook wrzucił mi w newsfeed Waszą stronę
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Zuzanna, bardzo dziękujemy za tak miłe słowa!
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Nas również zachwyciła :)
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