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KATO ZAKROS
 In the extreme east of Crete, at the end of a winding road going down from Zakros, lies the little village of Kato Zakros: not more than a couple of houses and a beach. There is not much accommodation in Kato Zakros, and there is no supermarket, just a few taverna's, and even in low season rooms are scarse. It's situated on a beach which is partly big pebbles, and on other parts some sand and some pebbles. You can see the kaiks floating in the sea, and sometimes laying on the beach. I like Kato Zakros very much because of its simplicity, the friendly inhabitants and the kind of tourists that visit the place and stay overnight. Most of the accommodation is very basic, and not all rooms you are offered have private facilities but the views and the solitude in Kato Zakros make up for that. |
| It can probably get pretty busy in Kato Zakros during the daytime because the remains of the ancient palace of Kato Zakros are within its boundaries. The palace at Zakros is the fourth in terms of size among the Minoan palaces. It was located at an advantageous strategic position, at a protected bay, and was the centre of commercial exchange with the countries of the East. Some say it's impressive, I say it's just old stones, which don't mean too much to me, but while you're there why not make a visit? I liked more the landscape around it with the cypres trees, the mountains and the caves. In the evening Kato zakros becomes quite a desolate place though (if you are lucky enough to have found a room there), where you can see loads of stars if the sky is clear. Visitors seem mostly French and some German. If you want to stay there overnight I think it's wise to make a reservation ahead. |
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AKROGIALI TAVERNA - KATO ZAKROS
For this restaurant we made a special detour last holiday after a few hours at the beach of Xerokampos. It is a place where we have been more often and where we have had breakfasts and evening meals. The position on the beach of Kato Zakros, the kind service and the vibes are special here. The owner of the restaurant is named Nikos and he also rents out rooms at the beach. We have stayed with him a couple of times. Since rooms are scarse in Kato Zakros maybe it is a good tip. Tel. 0030 28430 26893 - Send an email to Akrogiali. The large picture above was made on our terrace one of the times that we have stayed here. The food in the taverna is simple and honest Greek food, and the coffee is good. |
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STELLA'S TRADITIONAL APARTMENTS & STUDIOS - KATO ZAKROS
“Stella's Apartments” is a small, three-apartment complex, built exactly right on the top of the amphitheatrical, fertile valley of Kato Zakros. It is situated at a conspicuous location, overlooking the sea high above the tops of the olive trees, which grow lower at the valley. Having in mind nothing but your total comfort we reconstructed these 4 studios at the great setting of Kato Zakros located right next to our traditional apartments. The sea-shore is 500metres away, quite close for someone to enjoy its scents and glare under the sunlight and far enough to make every “civilized” sound coming from the visitor's cars, fade away. The area's peace and quite is disturbed only by nature’s sounds: birds, cicadas, the wind or the rustling of leaves. One can reach the apartments via a dirty road passing by the Archaeological Site first, and then by the exit of the “Dead's Gorge” (Faragi ton Nekron). The Apartments are only 150 meters away from the Dead's Gorge exit. This road used to connect Ano zakros with Kato zakros and a visitor “must” either drive or walk along it because the view to the Gorge from it, as she/he moves along its edge, is truly grandiose. The path to the beach goes past small gardens, which the Zacrites (the inhabitants of zakros) have in order to produce their own vegetables, potatoes, fruit and citrus fruits. The beach is about a 7 or 8 minutes walk ( of course it is less by car) and it is a very pleasant route. Tel. +30 28430 23739 - Send an email to Stella Apartments. |
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