Apladiana village: Beaches, Stays, Things to do

Apladianá is a charming village located at the foot of the Kouloukona mountain in the Tallaios range, 40 kilometers away from Rethymno. The village has a rich historical background dating back to 1368 when the Aplada family founded it. The settlement blossomed after the unveiling of the replacement of the older national highway, and it now offers cafes, taverns, and lodging establishments as part of countryside tourism packages. The village has winding alleys and old houses with captivating architectural features that will leave visitors in awe. Apladianá is perched atop a peak at 260 meters above sea level and is home to 175 locals, with an additional 78 inhabitants in Kampos ton Apladianon along its historical national road. In the 1881 census, Apladiana was attributed to the commune of Garazo with 57 inhabitants, and in 1900, it was referred to as the Apladiana Commune, which had 153 inhabitants together with the Cheliana settlement. Visitors can prepare themselves for an unforgettable experience as they explore these charming locales.

Things to do in Apladiana

The things to do around Apladiana sit within 10 km of the village. 3 monasteries, an ancient city, a wood carving museum, a gorge and the mountain town of Anogeia all fall inside that radius, on the slopes of the Talean mountains and the range behind them.

1. Visit Halepa Monastery. The monastery stands 3.9 km from the village, the closest of the 3 around Apladiana: Halepa Monastery.
2. Carry on to Vossako Monastery. It lies 4.1 km from Apladiana, in the same run of hills: Vossako Monastery.
3. Stop at Diskouri Monastery. The third monastery sits 4.3 km away: Diskouri Monastery.
4. Walk the site of ancient Axos. The ancient city lies 5.6 km from Apladiana, and the wood carving museum in the same village is the same distance out. See Ancient Axos and the Axos Wood Carving Museum.
5. Hike the Zoniana gorge. The canyon starts at 950 m south of Zoniana and ends at the village at 650 m, and its gentle slope makes it safe to walk; it begins 7.4 km from Apladiana. Route notes are on the Zoniana Gorge page.
6. Spend an afternoon in Anogeia. The mountain town is 9 km from the village: Anogeia.

Beaches in and around Apladiana

The beaches around Apladiana lie 6 to 8 km from the village, on the coast below the Talean mountains. 5 of them are within that range, and they are pebble coves rather than long sandy strands, apart from the sandy bays at Bali. The nearest, Propatoumenos, takes its name from the old walking trail to ancient Astali.

• Propatoumenos lies 6.1 km from the village, between the coast of Panagia Charakiani and Kefali hill. 3 remote pebbly beaches with clear water sit here, and the name translates as “the area that can be walked”.
• Glaros and Katevati sit 6.3 km away, on a small peninsula half a kilometre east of the Panagia Charakiani church. Katevati has large pebbles and a rocky seabed that suits fishing and snorkelling, and it is unorganised, so bring what you need: Glaros beaches.
• Kalo Horafi is 6.5 km away, reached by a 200 m unpaved path that starts on the main road by the Chnaris tavern. The pebble beach faces west, is rarely crowded and stands on the former site of the 317 Agii Pateres Pelekida monastery: Kalo Horafi beach.
• Bali stands 7.3 km away, with 4 sandy coves of clear greenish water: Livadi, Varkotopos, Limani and Karavostasis. The bay faces west, so the sea stays calm: Bali beaches. The resort behind them is covered on the Bali village page.
• Almirida, Sisses, lies 7.8 km away, a small sandy beach with a rocky seabed beside the harbour, shaded by tamarisk trees. The settlement is not developed for tourism and keeps a few rooms and cafe-tavernas.