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Greece - Crete - Kamilari

The scenic little village of Kamilari lies only 2.5 kilometers from the beautiful blue Libian Sea, on the south side of the island of Crete. The nearby sandy beaches add to the marvelous beauty of the area in this temperate climate, where the sun shines about nine months out of the year. Olive groves and vineyards are on the other side of Kamilari, making it the perfect setting for this country town. Off in the distance lies the magnificent peak of Psiloritis, which stands 2,456 meters above sea level. The village itself is set on three lovely hills, the Eygora, Goylas and Aleyrwta.

The town's name, which comes from the time of the Byzantine Empire, is from a word that simply means the one that leads the camel. It is a small town of only about 340 inhabitants, and most of the two story houses are made of stone. The town boasts of having come from the time of the Minoan culture (about 2000 BC), and records indicate that one of the seven wise men of the ancient days, named Epimneidhs, lived in a town right next to Kalimari, called Metohi.

Kalimari has managed to retain its elegant old style way of life, and you can vacation there and easily enjoy a laid back vacation with your family. If you want to visit a beach, you can quickly go to the beach town of Kalamaki, only a couple of miles away, which also retains its quaint seaside atmosphere, where you can find a number of seafood tavernas, and many of those delicious Cretan dishes.

Close to the village, also just a couple of kilometers away, are some wonderful places to see and enjoy. For many years the ruins of Minoan Phaestos lay hidden from the eyes of man, but the palace and tomb were discovered in recent years.  Throughout the region there are ruins from the Minoan, Greek, and the Roman civilization. At the tomb, the stone walls are laid out in a circle and stand over 6 feet high. Excavations at the Agia Triada, the small palace of the king of Phaistos – is only three kilometers away, revealed a number of exciting and valuable finds that are preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Iraklion. Monasteries are also within a short distance, as well as caves on the cliff sides of Matala, and other ruins. A number of quaint shops are also open for business in Kalamaki.

The people of Kamilari have preserved the traditional friendliness of small towns and will quickly make you feel right at home. Even the children will be welcome here. In the town, there are holiday homes available, a hotel, and apartments. The neighboring seaside town of Kalamaki is the place to go for the more modern hotels with great conveniences. The area is being built up with a number of resort hotels and would be a great place to stay if you want the convenience of a hotel.