Gavalochori, a charming village located 26 km southeast of Chania on the northwest coast of Crete, is a must-visit destination for those interested in historical and cultural sites. The village, which is part of the Vamos municipality in the Apokoronas area, is named after the Gavalas family who lived there during the Venetian rule.
Gavalochori is a well-preserved village that offers visitors a glimpse into its historical splendour. The village boasts majestic churches, Venetian stone arches, an olive oil factory, and Roman tombs. Additionally, there is a complex situated about 1 km away that houses 24 Venetian wells surrounded by unusual trees with twisted branches. Locals still come here to socialise and draw water for their animals.
The village has a population of around 500, but this number swells in the summer months as tourists, relatives, and visitors arrive. Several family-run tavernas offer visitors tasty dishes of Cretan cuisine. In addition, the village has many shops, two cafes, a pastry shop with a cafe bar, the village pre-school, a graphic design studio, a bakery, three grocery stores, and a handicrafts shop.
Overall, Gavalochori is a time capsule of historical and cultural significance that offers visitors a unique experience.
Things to do in Gavalochori
Gavalochori keeps its sights within a short radius: the old village core, a set of Venetian wells about 1 km out, and the Apokoronas coast under 3 km away. A half day covers the village and the wells, and a full day adds a beach or a gorge. The list below runs from the village centre outwards.
- Walk the old lanes. The Venetian stone arches, the churches, the olive oil factory and the Roman tombs all sit inside the village, so the core is covered on foot.
- Visit the Folklore Museum of Gavalochori. It stands 100 m from the centre, and its page is Folklore Museum of Gavalochori.
- Find the 24 Venetian wells. The complex lies about 1 km from the village, ringed by trees with twisted branches, and people from the village still draw water there for their animals.
- Look at Blumosifi’s Well. This second well sits 2.2 km out, listed here as Blumosifi’s Well.
- Swim at Almyrida. The coast is 2.9 km away, where Almyrida beach is really 2 shallow sandy bays split by a rocky peninsula with a white chapel, with tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre behind and the uninhabited islet of Karga offshore. The settlement behind it is covered on Almirida village.
- Walk the Diktamos Gorge. The canyon starts 10.5 km away near Katochori at 300 m and ends 8 km further east at Faragi village at 40 m, and it takes about 3 hours; parts of it need care, and the route is described on Diktamos Gorge.
Eating and drinking happens in the village itself and in the hamlets next to it. In Gavalochori you have Traditional Cafe-Mezedopolio Elpida and Arismarí, both in the centre. Within 2.2 km sit Douliana Kafenion, Heliostasi Traditional Restaurant, Eleonoras Taverna and Maroubas.
Gavalohori village Map
Discover Gavalohori village is located at Gavalohori village, in the Chania region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
