When traveling around Crete, it is not difficult to pay attention to the fact that most of the beaches there are relatively small and short. For this reason, people who are used to our national Baltic standards, where the sandy coast stretches for kilometers, may experience a special disappointment. However, fortunately, nothing is lost, because Crete in its rich arsenal of various beaches can boast of those that allow for long walks along the coast. One of them, especially liked by us, is the beach starting in Kommos ( Κομμός ) located in the south of the central part of the island. This beach extends beyond the town of Kalamaki.
Kommos beach
A trained tourist's eye will certainly notice that in the area of the southern part of the Kommos beach, right next to the asphalt road, there is a large fenced area. Looking through a corroded fence, you can easily see that this is an archaeological site. The ruins of old buildings unearthed by scientists are the remains of the former Minoan port, which was built here around 2000 BC
Kommos excavation site
In the period from 1976 to 1996, under the leadership of Joseph Shaw and Maria Koutroubaki, archaeological works were carried out here, which revealed that the port was a maritime base for the ancient Phaistos . There were not only warehouses, but also oil mills. There was also a small shipyard on the coast. The importance of this place is evidenced by the fact that the port was perfectly connected with Phaistos. According to archaeologists, there were at least several roads here.
Around 1700 BC, the port of Kommos was severely damaged by an earthquake. Due to its very good location, the place has never been abandoned by local residents and has survived until the Hellenistic times, when it was also an important place of worship. According to Homer, the fleet of Menelaus, king of Sparta, returning from Troy, was about to crash on the beach in Kommos. To commemorate these events, the inhabitants of ancient Kommos erected a sanctuary in which Menelaus was worshiped.
Today, the Kommos beach area is also one of the most important breeding sites for Caretta caretta turtles in Crete. Every year, volunteers of the Archelon organization mark the dozens of nests on the coast that these reptiles create. For all people resting on this beach, the characteristic metal borders with attached plates describing the nest are a sign to take special care. In these places you should not put up sunbeds, rest, and even less hammer umbrellas. It's best to just move to a different area of the beach.
Characteristic designation of the Caretta caretta turtle nest
The presence of the Caretta carreta turtles on this beach also means that during the night hours the coast is protected not only from unnecessary noise emission, but also from unnecessary lighting. And although the vast sandy beach would certainly be a great place for evening parties on the sand, both in Kommos and in the nearby Kalamaki there is a blissful peace here. People seeking a rich nightlife should go to Matala, a few kilometers south, where in the peak holiday season the tourist bustle and hustle and bustle lasts practically 24 hours a day.
Unfortunately, what is a bit deceptive about this beach is the fact that the sandy coast is not always accompanied by a sandy bottom. Due to the frequent strong winds blowing from the west and the fact that the beach is in no way sheltered from them, in some areas the sand is completely washed away. In such places there is a rocky bottom which is quite uneven due to the action of sea waves. Sometimes you can also come across small gaps and faults, which are not always clearly visible through the sea depth, especially when the water surface is very rough.
A look towards Kalamaki
People relaxing on this beach should keep this in mind when entering the water. It is worth being especially careful when entering the water for the first time. The more that quite often, due to the aforementioned strong winds, the waves can be quite large.
In the area of the Kommos beach you will find practically everything you need for a carefree vacation, i.e. sunbeds and umbrellas. If you want a bit more personal rest, taking advantage of the vastness of the beach, you will find a piece of your place without any problems.
Kommos beach. On the other side of this rock is Matala .
There are also several tavernas in the area of Kommos beach, so all people who feel hungry can count on the opportunity to eat something nutritious. Unfortunately, in the area of Kommos beach, the choice of accommodation is quite small. However, there is nothing to prevent you from booking accommodation in the nearby town of Kalamaki. Along the local seaside promenade there are at least a dozen family boarding houses offering a very different standard. From our own experience, we can highly recommend this option. A large number of guesthouses offer the option of making reservations via the booking.com website.
The part of the coast between Kommos and Kalamaki is a place eagerly chosen by naturists. Some of them are people who rest on this beach and live in makeshift huts and tents set up in a tamarisk grove located in the depths of the coast. It happens that whole families decide to take such a form of recreation close to nature. It is worth bearing this in mind when walking around this area of the beach.
The end of the beach is marked by a rock
If the sight of a naked man in a public place is shocking for you, we suggest avoiding this part of the coast. All the more so because Potamo or Potamoserma, because this beach is also called, was annexed by naturists at the time when hippies appeared in Matala. So the presence of naked grass on this beach has quite a long history. However, if it does not bother you, we can assure you that the sight of dressed people walking on the beach does not come as a shock to naturists.
The beach that stretches from Kommos towards Kalamaki is perfect for long walks as long as there is no wind
↤ click the appropriate part of the island to change the bottom map
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The date of the foundation of Moni Arkadiou (Arkadi) is not exactly known. According to tradition, the name of this church refers to the name of the Emperor Arkadiusz, who supposedly was to be its founder.
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Currently, the lower monastery is still not open to the public and is not used by the monks. The buildings of the upper monastery have undergone partial renovation and are the main seat of the Preveli monastery.
Currently, the lower monastery is still not open to the public and is not used by the monks. The buildings of the upper monastery have undergone partial renovation and are the main seat of the Preveli monastery.
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When traveling around Crete, it is not difficult to pay attention to the fact that most of the beaches there are relatively small and short. For this reason, people who are used to our national Baltic standards, where the sandy coast stretches for kilometers, may experience a special disappointment. However, fortunately, nothing is lost, because Crete in its rich arsenal of various beaches can boast of those that allow for long walks along the coast. One of them, our favorite is the Kommos beach located in the south of the central part of the island.
Although there are countless caves in Crete, only a few can be visited. Sfendoni is the largest cave open to the public. content comes from: http://www.crete.pl www.CRETE.pl
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