Platanos: Village Square, Churches and Traces of the Past

A stately plane tree has stood in Platanos village square for centuries. Together with churches and the ruins of old houses, it makes the village’s history tangible at specific landmarks. Platanos lies 240 metres above sea level. The drive from Chania to Platanos is estimated at 40 minutes. These details offer a starting point as you consider the village as a base for your stay.

Traces in the Village and Churches

Ruins of old houses can be seen in the old village. The churches add their own spatial and historical landmarks: Saint Athanasios stands on Prophetis Elias-Mannas, the highest mountain in the village of Platanos. The road to this church leads south out of Platanos, along the road towards Zachariana. If you plan to visit, check the current condition of the route before setting out.

The Transfiguration of Sotiros is the village’s main church. The Church of Mary Myrtidiotisa stands next to Platanos Primary School. An icon from the 16th century is also located in Platanos and is described as the oldest portable image of Saint John. The two-aisled cave church, Church of Saint John The Stranger, was thoroughly renovated in 2013 with donations from Platanos residents. Together, these different landmarks show that the village’s history is rooted not only in the village square, but also in its churches and older buildings.

In the wider area around Platanos is another cave church, the Church of Saint Fotis and Anikitou. Its inscription dates it to the year 1010. Distinguishing between the churches in the village and this site in the surrounding area helps you place them in context, without treating them as a single complex.

Village Life and the Beach

Platanos has small traditional tavernas and cafés serving meals, coffee and raki. The offerings at individual establishments may change; if you have a particular place in mind, check the current selection beforehand. The Sto Plai restaurant is in Platanos, on the road towards Falassarna. If you would like to visit this particular restaurant, check in advance whether it is currently open.

Falassarna Beach is five kilometres from Platanos. If a beach visit is part of your plans, take this distance into account when choosing a location for your holiday rental. This lets you consider Platanos as a village retreat and Falassarna as a beach destination separately, rather than treating the two places as one.

Chania as a Wider Travel Destination

The wider Chania destination offers other distinct cultural points of interest. Chania Old Town features Venetian mansions, old hammams, minarets and churches in its historic lanes. The Venetian Harbour of Chania was built in the 14th century for trade and to protect against pirate attacks. The permanent exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Chania spans three ground-floor rooms and one upstairs room; it presents archaeological evidence from the Chania regional unit across several centuries. Alongside the village churches and older houses of Platanos, the historic architecture and archaeology of the city of Chania therefore offer separate points of interest for planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kissamos, Tzitzifes, Astrikas, Mouzouras, Kournas, Sougia, Vatolakkos, Gerolakkos

For the wider travel overview: Chania.