Kissamos

Kissamos (also known by the old names of Kastelli and Kastelli Kissamou) is a relatively large town 40 km west of Chania Town, Crete. The town has permanent population of over 4000 people and facilities like bank, ATM, post office, restaurants and supermarkets. There is one fishing harbor and a ferryboat port with ferries running to Piraeus, Gythio (Peloponnese), Kythira and Antikythera islands.

Kissamos has long history starting before the Minoan period and spanning trough Roman, Byzantine, Genoese, Venetian and Ottoman times. The old names Kastelli and Kastelli Kissamou come from the Venetian castle from which only a few walls remain at present. Tourists wandering around the town will also stumble upon Roman baths, Roman villa remains, Venetian fountain from 15th century and more. Ancient artifacts and Roman mosaics are exhibited in Kissamos archeological museum which is housed in the Venetian governor palace.

The town has a few beaches. Telonio runs in front of the village center and promenade with taverns and restaurants. The seafront is rocky with a few sand patches. Mavros Molos is sandy beach at the west part of the Kissamos. It is organized (with sunbeds and parasols) and there are villas and holiday homes next to it. Livadia is another sandy beach but at the east part of the town. It is semi organized with some parasols and sunbeds and large free spaces in-between.

Less than 15 km away from Kissamos are the popular Balos and Falassarna beaches. Other interesting places nearby are the Venetian fortress of Balos, the island of Imeri Gramvousa and Gonia Monastery.

highlights: town with beaches and ferryboat port, village in Chania Region, Crete, Greece