GAVALOCHORI village

Gavalohori is a large old village with particularly interesting and well-preserved folk architecture.  In this officially protected, traditional village a lot of interesting buildings can be found, such as the 18th century two-roomed, arched olive oil press (free entrance), the temples of Panagia and Agios Sergios, the old school and many residences. 24 of the well-known Gavaliana wells still stand within a fantastic landscape ( about 1 km out of the center).

In addition there is an excellent folklore museum, where you can see the history and the culture of the village. It is hosted in a renovated Venetian building with stone arches. The museum was founded in 1967 but was inaugurated in September 1993.

Finally, there is an agriculture and tourist women”s co-operation on the main square, which has a cottage industry producing knitting embroideries and laces of delicate art.

The central square host a few very good restaurants that serve cretan specialities and a few cafenions where the local men come to chat and play trek-trak or card games. All is at walking distance and it is worth a visit or a stop over.