Anopolis Sfakion, Crete

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Anopolis is one of the villages of Sfakia region, which is located at the foothills of the White Mountains, in the prefecture of Chania, Crete. 

The road that continues to the west from the seaside village of Chora Sfakion and ascends the steep mountainside, will bring you to the village at 600m height above sea level, and then you will reach the square, an ideal place for a stopover.

There, you will see the statue of Ioannis Daskalogiannis (John Daskalogiannis) who was the leader of the revolution in 1770 against the Turks conquerors of the island. His real name was Ioannis Vlachos, but because of he was the leader of the uprising, the teacher of the Sfakians, so he was given the nickname Daskalogiannis (Daskalos Giannis) which means "Techer John", or better... "John - the teacher." 

The anniversary of the revolution is celebrated in a traditional way, every year the first Sunday after June 17th, in the square of Anopolis. 

Although, when you visit the village, do not expect that you'll find the same crowds as is the case on the festive days. 


The village is sparsely populated and consists of nine neighborhoods scattered across the plateau.

The inhabitants of Anopolis dealing mainly in farming, beekeeping and agriculture, producing dairies, honey and raki.

If you have time at your disposal, sit in the taverns of the village and taste the local flavors.


Moreover, if you happen to be in the region of Sfakia on August 15, come to Anopoli's gruyere celebration at 9.00 pm. There will be served food, wine and raki, under the hearings of live Cretan traditional dance music. The aim of the festival is to highlight and promote the gruyere and the other local products.

Explore the Area around Anopolis

From here you can continue touring around this part of Sfakia region. Take a look of the option that you have and visit what excites you most. 

A Spot with Fantastic Views

While at the square of the village, if you move south, very soon you'll find yourself up the hill where the chapel of Saint Catherine is located.

There you will experience some fantastic views of the Libyan Sea. At the background, you can see the southernmost point of Greece and Europe, the residential ilsand of Gavdos, as well as the seaside Loutro beneath your feet. 

At this point starts the path that leads down to Loutro, which was the safe port of ancient Anopolis.

The archaeological site of this ancient city spans the area just west-northwest of the chapel of St. Catherine.

Aradena Gorge & Pine Forest of Agios Ioannis

About 3.5 kms west of the village, is located the abandoned village of Aradena, where you will arrive after passing over the gorge of Aradena, through the only metal bridge in Crete, that connects the two sides of the stunning Gorge. 

If you continue to the east, you will pass through a unique pine forest and end up in the village of Agios Ioannis, located 5 kms from the bridge of the Aradena Gorge. 

Livaniana - Lykos Beach - The Old Phoenix Beach

Just before crossing the bridge of Aradena, if you follow the only branch that goes south, you will be led to the Lykos Beach and after that, to the Old Phoenix beach, through the village of livaniana. Be aware that the road turns into a dirt road. 

White Mountains - Pachnes Peak

Finally, again from the square of Anopolis, if you take the road that leads north, you have the ability to climb on the bulk of the White Mountains. The dirt stops at a distance of 1.5-hour hike from the highest peak of the White Mountains, called Pachnes at 2,453 meters. 

It goes without saying that you must have the appropriate vehicle to go up there and at the same time, the weather must be excellent. Consider that snows sometimes don't melt even until the early summer. 


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