to Anoskeli winery & olive mill and to Paleochora, the “Libyan Bride”.

The Program

A full-day excursion will take place on Saturday, June 15th, approx. 08:30 – 18:30. Buses will depart from the entrance of Minoa Palace Resort & Spa. Please remember to bring the ticket for the excursion. A bottle of water will be provided.

PALEOCHORA

Paleochora is a coastal town located on the southwest coast of Crete and its about 70 km away from Chania. It is built on a peninsula between two picturesque bays. Washed by the Libyan Sea and justly regarded as the “Libyan Bride” and “Land of the Sun”. The fact that Paleochora is 90 minutes from Chania is one of the reasons why it retains its authentic feel and hasn’t become over-developed.
There are beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, archaeological sites and amazing landscapes, not forgetting the picturesque streets of Paleochora. Also, offers a variety of activities: from swimming, surfing, kayaking, diving and sea excursions, to hiking, cycling, gorge crossing and cave exploration in nearby villages. A walk through the city streets can lead to traditional cafes, pastry shops, taverns, restaurants and bars. Walking up the Fortezza hill on the south side, you will end up at Selino castle, a high place with a panoramic view of Paleochora.
 

Beaches

The village consists of two wonderful beaches, one with soft sand and one with nice pebbles. Both are gifted with refreshing crystalline waters which are always protected from the strong north winds making an ideal place to relax during the summer holidays. Both of them are Blue Flag beaches and have life guards in attendance in the peak season.
Coarse sand

Pachia Ammos is the famous sandy beach, located to the west of Paleochora and is a huge stretch of golden sandy beach with plenty of space to spread out. The beach has shallow waters and is therefore ideal for families. It is also organized with umbrellas and sea beds, offering showers, lifeguard, water sports, beach bar, cafes, restaurants, taverns, bakery. Carry on to the far west end of the beach for more natural and secluded areas with rocks, the odd nudist and of course the gorgeous sea to dive into. This is a wonderful spot to watch the vibrant Cretan sunsets from.
Gravel beach

The gravel beach is covered with pebbles on the east side of the old town, an ordinary Greek landscape. Here are located all the beach bars. Fully organized, with many restaurants and cafes. The waters are deep and refreshing.

Things to do in Paleochora

Venetian Selino Castle

Walk around the ruins of the 13th Century Venetian Castel Selino. Although it was destroyed, abandoned, and rebuilt more than once, Selino Castle or Paleochora Fort is an imposing silhouette part of the local skyline. Strategically located on the highest but also the most central point of the peninsula, it offered a panoramic view of the Libyan Sea that allowed to protect the locals from pirate attacks, was also targeted by the famous pirate Barbarossa. The castle, almost square and with two towers, probably had residences for the officials and a church.

Discover the Beautiful Church of Evangelistria

Another iconic image of Paleochora is the pristine church of Evangelistria or Church of the Ascension. Another building in town that you must see. If you can, don’t just admire the bell tower, but take a look at the inside of the church to discover the beautiful frescos of the Orthodox building.

The Acritans of Europe Museum

The Museum for the Acritans of Europe is a little ethnographical museum. It is a museum unique in the world. This little museum is dedicated to the border fighters and heroes of Europe’s medieval and Byzantine times. It has a well-displayed historical exhibition, along with musical instruments, weapons and other items from the period.

Walk Along the Pedestrian Road

Here, you can go shopping for souvenirs and local crafts. Get lost in the tiny maze of alleys, and discover the most picturesque shops, the romantic corners, and the colorful atmosphere of the village filled with music. Among the things that captivate every visitor in Paleochora are the beautiful whitewashed little houses dressed in colorful flowers and picturesque alleys. Besides, if you love street photography, you’ll have the time of your life!

Taverns/café

Paleochora has plenty of options for eating out and sampling some delicious Cretan food.  Quiet side streets hide small local restaurants, perfect for a romantic meal. Greek musicians rotate around the restaurants adding to the ambience.  At night, various streets near the seafront are closed to cars and make it a wonderful spot for an evening wander. However, if you’re looking for a bit more life there are also plenty of bars, some with live music, and a buzzy atmosphere amongst the colorful pavement tables in the center of town.
Seafood is fresh here, try the local specialty, swordfish xiphias, or one of the many fresh fish of the day. There are so many fine tavernas to choose from, along the promenade and in the main street and even a short distance out of town.

Activities

Boat trips

Daily ferries provide quite beautiful trips to gorgeous Elafonisi Beach (look for one that offers stops at Kedrodasos Beach and Viena Beach), Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro, and Hora Sfakion. There is also a ferry from Paleochora to the island of Gavdos.
Please note that the boat trip could be rough if the wind is up. There is not much shade on the island or at the beaches so take a hat and be prepared for a sunny day. Take some money to hire a sun bed and umbrella if you wish. Lunch and snacks on the boat cost money too. From Paleochora to Agia Roumeli is a duration of 1 hour 30 minutes. Ferry from Paleochora to Gavdos is a duration of 4 hours.

Hiking
Hiking is a must activity to do in Paleochora, as the natural landscape of the area is out of this world. So, if you want to put some miles under your shoes, Paleochora is what you’ve been looking for!
From Paleochora passes the European trail E4 which offers some of the fascinating seascapes in Crete. The E4 coastal trail connects Paleochora with beautiful beaches as Elafonisi to west and if you take the east path to Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro and Hora Sfakion. However, you can have shorter walks.

Water activities
Water activities include swimming, surfing, water skiing, snorkeling, jet ski, kite, sailing. If you enjoy fishing, take a private fishing and a snorkeling tour.

Paleochora is a place that you will never forget.
Enjoy the sun, the sea, the great Cretan food and the warm hospitality of the people.

ANOSKELI WINERY & OLIVE MILL

In a small village named Anoskeli, birthplace of the Mamidakis family, a winery and olive mill was built many years ago. All vineyards are organic cultivations and are located in and around the village. The varieties grown are Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Asyrtiko, Vidiano and Vilana.
During our visit we will learn, taste and explore the secrets of pure olive oil & unique wine varieties in an authentic cretan landscape:
The Olive Oil session includes tasting of extra virgin olive guided by the in-house sommelier, accommodated by fresh bread with olive oil, sprinkled with salt, oregano and lemon. Also, during the session we will learn about the olive oil production and standardization procedures, the specifics about the production of olive oil in Crete (types, volumes, varieties etc.), the quality characteristics and significance of extra virgin olive oil for the Mediterranean diet and the health benefits of quality extra virgin olive oils.
The Wine Tasting session includes 4 wines of their own production guided by the in-house sommelier, accommodated by a plateau of snacks (a selection of local cheese, cold cuts, cherry tomatoes, traditional rusks and olive chutney) and tsikoudia (Cretan raki) as dessert.
The duration of the entire session is 90 min.
 
The cost of participation is 50 euros per person and includes transportation by bus and the wine tasting.

If you would like to reserve a place, please complete the form (.doc , .pdf) by April 5th. By signing this form you commit to paying in cash upon registration at the meeting. Accompanying persons wishing to join the conference dinner are kindly asked to follow the same instructions.