Kandanos: Olive Grove, Churches and History

Kandanos brings together a historic olive grove, Byzantine churches and memorials to the destruction of the village in 1941. There is also the cuisine of the tavernas in the centre, where traditional sweets and dishes made with local produce are served. Landscape, art, history and food offer different ways to experience the village; when looking for a holiday apartment, it therefore makes sense to start by asking which of these aspects you want to shape your stay most. You can then base your choice of location on what interests you most during your stay.

Olive Grove and Long History

A distinctive landscape and historical feature is Kandanos’s historic, planned olive grove. It is at least 600 years old. This long timescale adds a different perspective on Kandanos to its more recent history, bringing the landscape into focus alongside the buildings and memorials. If you are also interested in landscapes when travelling, you can see the grove as a way to experience the village in its own right: it reflects a connection spanning centuries, rather than a single event.

Memorials in the Village

On 3 June 1941, the Nazis burned Kandanos to the ground and destroyed the village. After the destruction, they left three inscriptions in the village; marble copies of these three inscriptions stand in the village square. The date, inscriptions and copies connect the local history with a specific place in the village. If you plan to visit the marble copies, check in advance whether they are still in the village square.

Byzantine Churches in Six Neighbourhoods

Visitors can discover numerous Byzantine churches in Kandanos’s six neighbourhoods. Some are considered particularly representative monuments of Byzantine art in Crete. This distinction is useful if you want to define your cultural focus more precisely: the churches together form part of the village’s character, while the special art-historical distinction applies to individual examples. This allows you to combine an interest in religious buildings with the history of 1941 without treating the two topics as one and the same.

A Walk Planned for a Specific Date

The announced walk on 13 April 2025 was planned as a circular route of approximately 7 kilometres: Kántanos–Anisaraki–Kántanos. The approximate distance and circular route gave that walk a specific framework. If you are planning a later visit that includes a hike, check current route and event information.

Tavernas and Choosing Accommodation

Tavernas in the centre of Kandanos serve traditional sweets and dishes made with local produce. This culinary focus complements the historical and art-historical themes with a different way to experience the village. What individual tavernas offer may vary; if you have a particular dish or visit in mind, check the current menu. If churches and local history are the main focus of your trip, take these interests into account alongside location when choosing accommodation.

Discover More Destinations

Likotinarea, Epanochori, Platanos, Rapaniana, Vathi, Platanias, Theriso, Vamos

For the main travel overview: Chania.