ARCHAELOGICAL MUSEUM OF HERAKLION
There is full accessibility for people with disabilities. There’s also available toilet and elevator. Full access in yard from the refectory. There are also two parking spaces for people with disabilities one at the main entrance. There is free entrance for people with disabilities on 67% and over by showing your disability counseling in force. People who move with a wheelchair are entitled free entrance for their
KOULES VENETIAN FORTRESS
The entrance and ground floor are accessible. There’s a lift that gives you access on the roof. Cause of the floor in the area of the roof people who move with a wheelchair will certainly need the assistance of another person. There is partial access to the warriors. No toilet for people with disabilities. The way from the Venetian Fortress to the Acromol which is almost 2km is fully accessed even for people who move with a wheelchair. There is free entrance for people with disabilities on 67% and over by showing your disability counceling in force. People who move with a wheelchair are entitled free entrance for their escort.
CRETAN AQUARIUM
Fully accessible. There are two toilets in the area of the aquarium and in the refectory. There is free entrance for people with disabilities on 67% and over by showing your disability counceling in force. People who move with a wheelchair are entitled free entrance for their escort.
HERAKLION HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Access with a wheelchair only on the ground floor. Because of the architecture of the building and the writing as maintenance any changes on the access can’t be done. There’s a wheelchair that can serve a person with movement disabilities and full help from the museum’s guard is offered. For group tours you ,ust first make a call at the museum in order to arrange it. There is free entrance for people with disabilities on 67% and over by showing your disability counceling in force. People who move with a wheelchair are entitled free entrance for their escort.

NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Fully accessible in all five floors and the yard. There are toilets for people with disabilities and an elevator. People who move with a wheelchair have full access everywhere except the seismic bank. Technology screens and applications are in the right height for people who move with a wheelchair. There is free entrance for people with disabilities on 67% and over by showing your disability counceling in force. People who move with a wheelchair are entitled free entrance for their escort.
ARCHAELOGICAL SITE OF KNOSSOS
The access for people who use a wheelchair must always be done with the help of a partner cause of the morphology of the terrain. Ther is an accessed airlift in the archeological area of Knossos which is accessible by 70% for people with severe motor disability. The access is only until the main yard of the palace. There is a toilet for people with disabilities. The key must be requested from the person in charge. There is parking for people with disabilities. There is free entrance for people with disabilities on 67% and over by showing your disability counceling in force. People who move with a wheelchair are entitled free entrance for their escort. There is a boom with Braille system in order to service blind people.
AGIA AIKATERINI SINAITON
Free entrance for all people with disabilities even without showing your disability counceling in force. There is a toilet by the municipality of Heraklion at the square.
NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS TOMB
Unfortunatelly it is not accessible for people with movement disabilities.
COASTAL FRONT OF HERAKLION
(from the Historical museum to the area of Karavolas where there is slide for people with movement disabilities) The whole way of the esplanade is accessible with different kinds of road surface

GEORGIADIS PARK
Accessible for people with movement disabilities who move with a wheelchair. There is also a toilet at the park.
AGIOU MINA CHURCH – AGIOU TITOU CHURCH
Accessible with a ramp but there are small stairs in the entrance of the temples. People who move with a wheelchair may need assistance in order to get to the temple.
HERAKLION CENTER – Central Market- Theotokopoulos park
All the above places are accessible even with a wheelchair. ACCESSIBLE BEACHES IN HERAKLION The accessible beaches are Karteros Municipality Coast where there is access at the sea with a seatrack. On Ammoudara Beach (Municipality of Heraklion) near the Petousis Tavern there is access at the sea with a special coach.

GUORA GATE
The old town of Rethymnon actually starts from here, since the Guora Gate was the central entrance to the Venetian land wall. Today, it is the only preserved gate left from the original fortification and marks the transition from the new town and Four Martyrs Square to the old one with its commercial pedestrian streets and picturesque narrow streets. Specifically, from the Goora gate begins EthnikisAntistaseos Street, one of the most picturesque and busiest shopping streets of the city, also known as “Little Market”. The gate is accessible by wheelchair (paved with cobblestones without unevenness), with the exception of well located in the center of the small square immediately after entering the Gate from the side of the old city. Unfortunately, the pavement both at the Gate and on the pedestrian street from the side of the old city do not have “guides for the blind”. Passing the Gate and proceeding along the same road, we meet on our left St. Francis and right next to the Turkish primary school.

THE LONG NARROW


Another route worth taking is in the legendary “Long Narrows”, N. Foka Street, the main street of the old Turkish neighborhood of Rethymno, which starts from the Municipal Garden and ends at Fortezza. It is one of the most beautiful streets in the city, full of Venetian houses with amazing doors and old stone fountains. It passes by the church of the Lady of the Angels (see section “Holy Temples and Monasteries”) and going uphill brings you to Fortezza. of the blind”.
THE VENETIAN HARBOR AND THE LIGHTHOUSE
One of the most beautiful parts of the city is the small Venetian harbor with the fishing boats, the famous lighthouse and the many taverns. The small Venetian jetty with its high wall managed to withstand with dignity the strong waves of the Cretan Sea and the excellent condition in which it has been preserved despite the passage of so many centuries is truly impressive. Today, outside of it there is the much larger jetty of the new port, from where the passenger ships from Rethymno to Piraeus and Santorini leave. At the edge of the Venetian jetty stands the lighthouse, which is not Venetian, but was built by the Turks after the 17th century. In the summer, various small boats depart from the Venetian port for day trips to the neighboring beaches. The pier of the Venetian port,

The Venetian fortress of Fortezza The Venetian fortress of Fortezza (Fortezza) is built on the hill of Palaiokastro, in the northwest of the current city. Fortezza is visible from every corner of the city, while at the same time it has a panoramic view of all of Rethymno and the west coast, hiding within it the whole history of centuries. According to one theory, the hill on which Fortezza was built, in the distant antiquity was an island , which was connected to Crete through a narrow strip of land. In the course of the centuries with alluvium it was united with the land taking the form it has today. On this hill was probably the acropolis of the ancient city of Rithymna with a temple of Apollo and the sanctuary of Rokkaia Artemis. The excavations found in various parts of the hill testify to the existence of the acropolis on the rock. The rest of the settlement was probably near the port. However, there is no evidence either for the form of the settlement, or for the form of the acropolis and the sanctuary.
The need for the creation in Rethymno of the castle of Forteza was highlighted by the events that followed in Crete from the first half of the 16th century, namely the Turkish threat and the development of firearms, after the discovery and widespread dissemination of gunpowder. All this contributed to Venice deciding the military and defense organization of Crete. Especially after a complete destruction of the city of Rethymno by Ottoman pirates, the need for substantial fortification of the city was clear and the relevant local actors and the Venetian Senate decided to build a fortress that could include all the residences of the city of Rethymno. As the most suitable location, the hill of Paleokastro was chosen, which has an endless view from both land and sea. The first stone in the foundation of Fortezza, was installed by the Venetian Rector AlviseLando on September 13, 1573, and by 1580 work was completed on the enclosure and the public buildings that existed within it. It was built from regular rectangular stones, it has a star-shaped shape with a total length of 1307 m. The fortress in the east and south consists of four main semi-bastions – Agios Nikolaos, Agios Pavlos, Agios Ilias and Agios Loukas – while in the north and west it closes with three projections/peaks – of the Holy Spirit, of AgiaIustina and of Agios Sozontos. To the east is the main gate, with the three flanking vaulted rooms for the guard, while secondary auxiliary gates open to the north and west. In the years it took to build the Fortezza, 107,142 Cretans and 40,205 tamed animals worked hard, while it is reported that the master craftsman G. Skordylis was responsible for the building. Today the fortified enclosure of Fortezza is preserved intact and the restoration of some buildings within it continues. Thus, the visitor gets a satisfactory picture of Fortezza during the time of the Venetians. You can reach Fortezza, and specifically the main Eastern Gate, either through the narrows of the old town of Rethymnon, ending up on Katehaki Street (which is, however, particularly uphill with stairs) or Chimaras street, or easier by following the coastal road (ie. M. Kefalogianni avenue) which starts behind the old Venetian port (1). Follow the beach road past taverns and cafes for 200-300m to the small car park on your left (2), from where begins an uphill cobbled road without unevenness that leads to the castle. The Fortezza can be seen directly from above, so there is no way to miss it. The Main East Gate is an arched majestic gate that leads down a long covered cobbled walkway of time-smoothed stones. Inside the corridor the cobblestones are more uneven and rough which might make it a bit difficult to move with a wheelchair, as well as a tourist kiosk which is not wheelchair accessible because it has large steps at the entrance and 2 levels inside for which there is no wheelchair access. Inside the Fort there are paved paths that lead to the largest number of buildings and the visitable area without intervening steps or sharp inclines that hinder movement with a wheelchair. After the gate, there are two WCs for the public and one WC for the disabled, which are subject to a fee (€0.50). The disabled WC is difficult to access without the support of a second person, as the mechanism for inserting the coin is installed at an inappropriate height (1.20 m) and after inserting the coin, within 5 seconds the person has to push and open the door before it locked again. Exiting the vaulted corridor, the first building we come across is the Artillery Storehouse where the Fortezza’s cannons and armaments were kept. It is a two-story building with four characteristic arches with large wooden doors on the facade. Today it has been renovated and hosts art exhibitions. The entrance to the interior is slightly obstructed by a small head-stair (4-5 cm). Inside, there is the possibility of moving with a wheelchair on a large part of the ground floor, but there are also elevated sections which, like the upper floor, can only be accessed by stairs. Right next to it is a canteen with refreshments and snacks which is accessible and with a wheelchair. To the left of the entrance, after the steps is the bastion of Panagia or Ag. Pavlou), while a few meters after the Artillery Depot one reaches the bastion of Agios Ilias, where today the outdoor municipal theater “Erophili” is located (see section “Culture-Artistics”), which, among other things, often hosts performances of the Renaissance Festival. From the “Erofilli” theater you can head straight to the bastion of Agios Loukas, and continue around the perimeter to the Auxiliary West Gate, with the aim of exploring the Fortezza in its entirety. Alternatively, you can follow the shortest and most accessible route to the buildings that can be seen on the right in the background. Ekaterini, which has been operating since the end of the 19th AD. century. The entrance to the church (12 places) has an opening of 85 cm and an internal double step (7 plus 3 cm), which makes it difficult for people in wheelchairs to enter without the support of a second person. Inside the church there are no imbalances, with the only exception being the step which has a step of 12 cm. Immediately to the north, next to the mosque, is the so-called Episcopal Palace, so named because it is located next to the cathedral. It consists of two buildings from the Venetian period (16th AD), which are preserved in good condition. The larger of the two buildings has a large single space with arches and was apparently used in its initial phase as the seat and residence of the bishop. Next to the Episcopal Palace is the cathedral of Agios Nikolaos which was founded in 1583 as a church of the Catholic church and in the years of the Turkish rule was turned into the Mosque of Sultan Ibrahim Khan (1648). It is impressive for its impressively sized hemispherical dome, with a diameter of 14.5 m. Inside is preserved the mihrab (i.e. the prayer niche facing Mecca), built into the center of the SE wall. The building is reached by a flagstone path, with no particular unevenness, but the ramp in front of the entrance is particularly steep (about 20%). Also, at the entrance there is a step of about 10 cm. and the help of a second person is needed to open both leaves of the door. Opposite the Mosque of Ibrahim, a part of the complex of the residence of the Rector of Rethymno (10) or Palazzo Publico is preserved , that is, of the Venetian commander of Rethymno. It is a building of excellent construction that was characterized by magnificence and luxury. Its construction was completed in 1581 and today only a small part survives which probably functioned as a prison, and which is not open to the public. In this place he lived, according to the sources, one of the two Councilors of Rethymnon, while the other remained down in the city, to oversee the order. It is a two-story imposing building with very large rooms, a copy of well-known Italian Renaissance palaces. It was probably also used during the Turkish occupation as the seat or residence of an official. Today renovated, it houses the antiquities conservation workshop and is not open to the public. Parallel to the wall, between the ledge of AgiaIoustina and Agios Sozontos, a large part of the storage areas known as the “Northern Gate Complex” is preserved. This is the main warehouse complex of Fortezza, combined with the two underground and wheelchair-accessible (many steps) guard areas of the northern auxiliary gate. Continuing parallel to the outer wall towards the sea side we reach the ledge of Agios Sozontos where we see a small pyramid shaped building. It is one of the two gunpowder stores of the castle that are preserved today. The second is located in the NW part, between the ledges of Agios Pneimatos and AgiaIoustini. These are rectangular buildings with a dome that has a ventilation window on the north side so that the sea breeze keeps the gunpowder always dry. They have extremely thick walls with small doors and inside they also have intermediate corridors for the best safety of the gunpowder.Finally, following the path one reaches the bastion of Agios Nikolaos). There is the Twin Building, a Venetian-era building whose use has not been precisely determined. It consists of two vaulted spaces and is surrounded by an enclosure. The building can be visited and has 2 large halls recently restored. At the entrance (opening 120 cm.) it has a large step that prevents the entrance with a wheelchair. Right next to it is the orthodox church of Ag. Theodoros of Trichina. A small one-room church built in 1899 by the Russian Governor of Rethymnon Theodore de Hiostak during the Cretan State (1898-1913). Today, many residents of Rethymno choose to celebrate their weddings in this small church, simple and unnecessary, in the beautiful little grove of pine trees. The church (10 seats) is wheelchair accessible and the entrance to it is flat, with an opening of 120 cm., but a double-leaf door that needs the help of a second person to open the second leaf from the inside. Inside the church there are no unevennesses, with the only exception being the step which has two steps of a total height of 22 cm. From the church of Agios Theodores begins a downhill paved street with wide steps of a small height and which leads to the entrance of Fortezza (the eastern entrance). To safely descend this route in a wheelchair, the support of a second person is required. Otherwise, one can turn back towards the Erofili theater and follow the accessible path back to the entrance of the fortress. During the Turkish occupation, no major changes were made to the Venetian fortifications, with the exception of the small fort in front of its eastern gate Fortezzas, today’s Archaeological Museum. Opening hours: Every day 08:30-20:30 (summer schedule). Admission: €4 (full),

WHITE TAXI OF THE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF THE DISABLED RETHYMNOULEKO TAXI OF THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION OF CHANION WHITE TAXI OF THE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF THE DISABLED HERACLEIOU
Taxi stands
In Rethymno you can easily find taxis. Arriving at the port you will find many taxis parked to take you wherever you want. There are taxi ranks in the Four Martyrs Square, in Ag. Stratiotou, in Moatsou, in Dimitrakaki (with Koumoundourou corner), in Limani (at the beginning of I. Petichaki), and along the beach. These squares are located on accessible sidewalks, however most taxis do not have special equipment to serve people in wheelchairs. Attention, it is recommended to agree the price before starting or confirm that the driver will charge you based on the taxi meter.

SCAFFOLD-CRUCIFIXION
Blue flag, not wheelchair accessible, lifeguard services. The wider beaches of the Skaleta area start 11 km east of Rethymno and extend 3 km east, forming the last part of the vast beach of Rethymno bay. At 11 km there is the organized Sfakaki beach, immediately after PigianosKampos. Then, after 1 km, you will meet Stavromenos, so named after the settlement of the same name in the area. Before the end of the large Gulf of Rethymno, there is Skaleta. The beaches are generally sandy and very well organized, with some spots that have pebbles and rocks. As you go east, towards Skaleta, the sand becomes scarcer and the beach becomes narrower. Like all the beaches in the area, they are open to the north and usually have waves. The surrounding area has developed strongly in recent years, with large hotels and tourist shops. Also, there are frequent bus routes from Rethymno, so access is not a problem. During the nights of the summer season, from May to September, sea turtles lay their eggs on the sand. So don’t be surprised if you see small pieces of beach blocked off. More specifically in relation to the section at Estavromenos, there are no parking spaces for disabled vehicles, but finding a parking space is easy in the area. There is no public transport stop nearby, but there are stops in the village (see Stavromenou village). There is an accessible entrance to the beach for a person in a wheelchair, but there are no wheelchair walkways and the entrance to the water is not accessible. Also, there are no areas with umbrellas, seats and sunbeds which are wheelchair accessible, unlike the showers and changing rooms which are. Finally, there are hotels near the beach. Similarly, in the Skaleta section, there are no suitable corridors that allow movement on the beach or entering the water for people in wheelchairs, nor wheelchair accessible infrastructure. PLATANIAS – RETHYMNO #5 AND #6
Blue flag, accessible, lifeguard services Platanias is a popular tourist resort 4 km east of Rethymnon. It is actually a suburb of Rethymno, a few minutes from the city center, on the long sandy beach of Rethymno. It has hotels and rooms to rent for sleeping and accommodation, as well as taverns, cafes and bars for food and drink and several food shops and mini markets. Of course it is very easy to fly into the center of Rethymno for more alternatives for food, drink and entertainment . Access from Rethymnon is easy with frequent bus routes, as well as by taxi, car, motorcycle or bicycle. More specifically, there are parking spaces for disabled vehicles, and there is a nearby public transport stop on the main road (Ave. Machis Crete, 300 m. from the beach). There is an accessible entrance to the beach for a person in a wheelchair and walkways without imbalances, made of stable material at least 90 cm wide, are provided to enable a person in a wheelchair or a person with mobility problems to move. The entrance to the water is accessible and suitable for people in a wheelchair or mobility issues (walkway leading to water and amphibious wheelchair). There are areas with umbrellas, seats and sunbeds which are wheelchair accessible, as well as accessible showers and changing rooms. There is no public WC on the beach. Finally, near the beach there is an accessible restaurant, cafe-bar (“Poseidon”). blue flag, accessible lifeguard services. Pervolia, Missiria and Platanias (or Platanes) are three contiguous suburbs of Rethymno, 2-5 km apart. east of the city, respectively. They used to be separate settlements, which with the residential development were integrated into the urban fabric of Rethymno. Perivolia beach is located almost 2 km east of the center of Rethymno at the edge of its long beach. This beach is affected by meltemias. It is a well-organized beach located in front of hotels that provides all the possibilities for accommodation, food and a good swim. And if you don’t want the bustling city center you can stay here for a coffee or a drink, as well as for evening entertainment in the local bars. Access from Rethymno is very easy by bus, taxi, car and motorbike, but also because of its small distance from the center and by bike or on foot. There are parking spaces, but not specifically for disabled vehicles. At the beginning of the beach, at the height of Ari Velouchioti St. (in front of the Perl Hotel), the municipality has installed corridors made of non-slip material of a width suitable for wheelchairs and entering the water (corridor to the water and amphibious wheelchairs), as well as easily accessible changing rooms and WC..Blue flag, accessible, lifeguard services, disabled parking spaces, accessible WC. Missiria a tourist resort, is actually a suburb of Rethymnon, a short distance from the city center, just 3 km to the east and on the long sandy beach of Rethymno. Missiria takes its name from the Arabic word Misr, which is a suburb of Cairo with very fertile lands. Thus, the area was named so, because of its fertile soils, which even today produce horticulture. It has hotels and rooms to rent for sleeping and accommodation, as well as taverns, cafes and bars for food and drink. Of course, due to the close distance it is very easy to fly to the center of Rethymno where it has more suggestions for food, drink and entertainment. Access from Rethymno is easy with frequent bus routes, as well as by taxi, car, motorbike or bicycle. More specifically, along the beach there are special parking spaces for disabled vehicles, as well as a nearby stop for means of transport. The beach is accessible and the Municipality has installed corridors made of non-slip material of a width suitable for wheelchairs and entering the water (corridor to the water and amphibious wheelchairs). .There are no accessible spots with umbrellas and sunbeds on the beach, but there are accessible showers and changing rooms and an accessible WC. Blue flag, accessible, lifeguard services, disabled parking spaces, accessible WC The famous city beach, starts 300m. after the marina it stretches to the east for many kilometers. The first section is a safe and well-organized beach that provides lifeguard cover along its entire length. For those who want to enjoy their day relaxing on the beach, there are all amenities, such as sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports, as well as many other activities, such as beach-volley, parasailing, water skiing, etc. More details, in general parking is easy near the beach. However, there are parking spaces for disabled vehicles (around the middle of the beach, but relatively difficult to find). There is an accessible entrance to the beach for a person in a wheelchair (generally there are ramps every 200 m along, allowing access to the beach). Corridors made of stable material with a width of at least 90 cm are provided for a person in a wheelchair or a person with mobility problems to be able to move (at the height of SofoklisVenizelou Street, after the “Delfini” building). At this point, the entrance to the water is accessible and suitable for people with wheelchairs or mobility problems (there is a walkway down to the water and an amphibious wheelchair). There are no areas with umbrellas and sunbeds that are wheelchair accessible, but there are showers, changing rooms and WCs that are wheelchair accessible. Many of the beach shops also offer their services on the sand. Note: In the part of the beach that stretches between the Venetian port and the marina, that is, in the part of El. Venizelou, swimming is not allowed. However, in this section there are 3 beach volleyball courts, a 5×5 court, and concerts and events take place here, including the burning of the Carnival King.
Accessible, lifeguard services, accessible WCLocated 12 km west of Rethymnon, in a fertile valley with low plains, at the eastern end of the huge 10 km long beach front of Georgioupolis. km further south. The beach is bordered to the west by the Mousela river and to the west by the river that passes through the Petré gorge, next to the Zourida bridge. It is a large beach 50 m wide and 3.5 km long, which has sand and shallows waters, like most of the large beaches of North Crete and which is affected by the currents and has frequent waves.
It is organized, as there are large hotel units, taverns, restaurants, and bars around. Mainly in the western part of the beach there are places with a lifeguard, showers, changing rooms, umbrellas, snack bars, water sports, etc. However, due to its large size, you can find a calm spot mainly in the east. Such a part is the part of the beach from the intersection to Episkopi village, to Petres beach. Next to the beach, the northern road axis of Crete passes parallel, making access to any part of it very easy. Also, there are frequent bus routes, which stop in Episkopi. More specifically, there are no special parking spaces for disabled vehicles along the beach. however, there is a nearby covered public transport stop (at the entrance there is a step that prevents independent entry to the covered part of the stop). The beach is unfenced and there is a point (at the end of the eastern side of the beach) where the Municipality has installed walkways of non-slip material suitable for wheelchairs, as well as a water access facility (there is a walkway down to the water and an amphibious wheelchair). On the beach there are no accessible areas with umbrellas and sunbeds nor wheelchair accessible showers. But there is an accessible changing room and WC installed by the municipality. Near the beach, in the center of the beach, there are accessible restaurants and cafes/bars. The beach is unfenced and there is a point (at the end of the eastern side of the beach) where the Municipality has installed walkways of non-slip material suitable for wheelchairs, as well as a water access facility (there is a walkway down to the water and an amphibious wheelchair). On the beach there are no accessible areas with umbrellas and sunbeds nor wheelchair accessible showers. But there is an accessible changing room and WC installed by the municipality. Near the beach, in the center of the beach, there are accessible restaurants and cafes/bars. The beach is unfenced and there is a point (at the end of the eastern side of the beach) where the Municipality has installed walkways of non-slip material suitable for wheelchairs, as well as a water access facility (there is a walkway down to the water and an amphibious wheelchair). On the beach there are no accessible areas with umbrellas and sunbeds nor wheelchair accessible showers. But there is an accessible changing room and WC installed by the municipality. Near the beach, in the center of the beach, there are accessible restaurants and cafes/bars. On the beach, there are no accessible spots with umbrellas and sunbeds, nor wheelchair accessible showers. But there is an accessible changing room and WC installed by the municipality. Near the beach, in the center of the beach, there are accessible restaurants and cafes/bars. On the beach, there are no accessible spots with umbrellas and sunbeds, nor wheelchair accessible showers. But there is an accessible changing room and WC installed by the municipality. Near the beach, in the center of the beach, there are accessible restaurants and cafes/bars.
flag, partially accessible, lifeguard services, accessible WCO AdelianosKampos is located 6 km east of Rethymnon, near the village of Adele, in a large lowland valley (from which it got its name). In the section in front of AdelianosKampos there are large and small hotel units and many options for eating, shopping and entertainment. The beach is very well organized, with umbrellas, lifeguards, changing rooms, showers, bars, etc. It is also particularly known for water sports and sports facilities. The sea is shallow, but has very frequent waves, like all the open beaches of northern Crete. Sea turtles often lay eggs on the sand and the places with the eggs are marked with ropes and signs.
Access to the Adeliano plain is very easy, as there are city buses to the city center. More specifically, there is a nearby parking lot, but no parking spaces for disabled vehicles. However, there are two accessible public transport stops nearby, on the old E.O. Rethymnon – Heraklion (one in each stream). The entrance to the beach is wheelchair accessible and the Municipality has installed corridors made of non-slip material suitable for a wheelchair, but which do not reach the umbrellas, seats and deckchairs or the showers. They can only be reached via the wooden walkway that starts from the refreshment stand. The entrance to the water is accessible and suitable for people with wheelchairs or mobility problems (a walkway that ends in the water and an amphibious wheelchair).

The Geopark of Sitia includes the plateau and the eastern coastline of the former Province of Sitia which, although unknown to most of the world, has a unique geophysical wealth: caves, canyons, rare rocks and fossils.

Eastern Crete and especially the area of ​​Sitia is one of the most important and special environmental areas of Crete

Its geographical position at the eastern end of the island which allowed the exchange of species from Asia Minor, combined with the strongly dry-thermal climate that prevails in the area, created a mosaic of habitats and ecosystems, some of which, like the palm forest of Vai, are unique to the Mediterranean region.

The Sitia Natural Park is characterized by a very rich geoheritage which includes impressive rocks from the main alpine tectonic units, special formations and landforms in the postalpine units, characteristic tectonic and microtectonic structures, as well as a wealth of fossils.

More than 100 geosites have been identified within the Park, i.e. special locations and characteristic geoheritage monuments, such as distinct rock formations and sites rich in fossils.

The Psiloritis Natural Park was founded in 2001 by the company A.K.O.M.M. -with the scientific support of the Museum of Natural History of the University of Crete.

Due to its rich geodiversity, beautiful landscape and its undeniable history and tradition, the Psiloritis Natural Park joined, from its very foundation, the European Geoparks Network and a little later the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, thus achieving worldwide recognition place of this.

Since then, the Psiloritis Natural Park in collaboration with the Park Municipalities and other competent bodies has developed the appropriate infrastructure to provide both its guests and its permanent residents with a quality life in a standard non-urban environment.

Today the Psiloritis Natural Park actively participates in global efforts to protect and highlight the environment, natural and cultural heritage, as well as sustainable, local development through geotourism and other forms of alternative tourism.

The earth monuments and geosites of Psiloritis are scattered throughout its area. They include unique rock formations, fossil sites, impressive relief forms, caves and other karst forms, rock folds and cracks, especially important for the natural environment water features, elements of human interaction with stone and relief, which all together make up the history of the Earth and man in Psiloritis.

Many of these geosites are adjacent to each other and combined can recreate small pieces of the geological history of the mountain. Still others have common geological and physical features that complement each other and all together form a complete thematic image of the mountain. For the above reasons, but also for their promotion needs, many geosites have been grouped into individual sub-areas.

Thus, the “intersection of the Thalai Mountains: a journey of 250 million years into the past” in the Kouloukona mountain range, the “karst landscapes of Psiloritis” in the mountainous zone of the mountain, “from the mountain to the plain” that includes the eastern and southern foothills of the mountain, the “cliffs of Amari” in the homonymous valley and the “cave park” which includes the most important caves of Psiloritis. At the same time, there are individual geosites that for various reasons have not been included in any of these sub-regions and are distinguished as individual formations.