The pure natural beauty of this beach captures the heart of anyone who visits and transports you to another place. Falasarna (Phalasarna) is located in the west of Crete and has been voted as one of the top 10 beaches in all of Europe several times over.
Located at the western base of the Gramvousa peninsula, Falasarna Bay is a line of beaches like no other. Each beach along its coastline has different characteristics, making them loved by many people for many reasons. Whether you love to wind-surf, snorkel, swim, or relax, Falasarna is sure to enchant and amaze anyone who visits.
The main beach of Falasarna hosts endless white sand and turquoise waters while being surrounded by nature in its purest form. The mountains behind them cast an incredible backdrop for nature lovers, but they have also created an area so rich with plants and flora that it is protected under the Natura 2000 network.
Falasarna was once one of the strongest naval powers in all of Greece. The ancient Phalasarnians were a civilization to be matched by any other nation. Falasarna’s art, architecture, and command of the seas earned it a place in ancient Greek history. It is here, at the excavations of the ancient city, that our tour begins. You will be fascinated, enthralled, and captivated by the strength of this mighty civilization and taken on a journey through time to where this ancient civilization once thrived. After around 1 hour in the ancient city, we will continue our tour to the enchanting beach of Falassarna, which you will have 3–4 hours to enjoy. The crystal-clear waters and white sand of its main beach will transport you to another place with the power of their beauty and breath-taking views.
Falasarna is also known as the best place in Crete to watch the sunset as the sea meets the horizon in an unforgettable way.
ANCIENT FALASARNA
The Ancient City of Phalasarna, or Falasarna as it’s more commonly known, was once one of the greatest naval powers in all of Greece. The city of Phalasarna was at its peak between the 4th century and 67 BC, but excavations of the wider area show evidence of a settlement that dates back to the Minoan Period. Phalasarna’s art, architecture, and command of the seas earned their place in Greek history, and they were almost unstoppable during the Hellenistic Era.
It is believed that Phalasarna was a refuge for pirates, and sadly, in 69 BC, the Romans destroyed most of the city and blocked the main harbor entrance with stone blocks, sealing the port forever. This crippled the city, and its’ trading almost ceased entirely. It could not recover from this disaster, and thus the city was abandoned around the 4th century. Finally, in 365 AD, one of the biggest earthquakes in recorded history raised the whole of western Crete by 6–9 m in a few seconds, making the once-famous harbor inland and useless forever. What remained of the city was then flooded by a tsunami and buried in mud for more than 1,600 years.
The city was rediscovered in the late 19th century by British travelers, and since then, many excavations have taken place. The first excavations happened in 1966, when many graves were uncovered. Many of these finds from the early excavations can be found in the museums of Kissamos and Chania. In 1986, research excavations were carried out in the city, and it was here that the lost harbor was discovered and brought back to life.
Much of this incredible city still remains undiscovered, but the power of this once great city can still be seen in its buildings and defenses as you walk in the footsteps of this great civilization.
FALASARNA BEACH
The extraordinary beach of Falasarna (Phalasarna) is located 52km west of Chania, and it is adored by many people around Crete for its crystal-clear waters and large expanse of sandy beaches. Located at the western base of the Gramvousa peninsula, it is a line of beaches like no other, with each beach along its coastline having different characteristics, making them loved by many people for many reasons. Whether you love to wind-surf, snorkel, swim, or relax, Falasarna is sure to enchant and amaze anyone who visits.
Falasarna Bay is very popular with locals and tourists alike. It has been awarded as one of the best beaches in Europe several times over, and it’s not hard to understand why when you see the diverse coastline and enchanting beaches that Falasarna has to offer. Falasarna Bay is split into different beaches, each with qualities that differentiate them from one another. The two most popular are situated in the middle, as these have the whitest sand and clearest sea.
Like the beach of Elafonisi in the south of Crete, Falasarna has many different species of plants and flora, which also makes it a place of outstanding natural beauty. Falasarna is also protected under the Natura 2000 network.
https://www.deluxetransfers.gr/balos-beach/
