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HomePAA/PYA 2025 Summer Activities in Crete
Strata, Chania July 2024


PAA/PYA 2025 SUMMER ACTIVITIES IN CRETE


This summer, PAA is offering a range of activities for our PAA/PYA members to attend while visiting in Crete.


Be sure to check out the upcoming issue of our KPHTH magazine, emails, and newsletters for more details about these events.  

We have also put together a powerpoint document, Summer Activities in Crete 2025 that explains all of the activities.  

Most of them are free of charge except where noted (we will contact you after you reserve your spot for payment) 

Please make a reservation in advance! CLICK HERE and submit the Google Form today!
We need a final count of participants by June 1.
 

Questions?  Email us at president@pancretan.org


Read more about some of the new programs we are offering this year below


Food Storytelling Lunch with Isabella Zampetaki

Lyrarakis Winery in Alagni, Heraklion. July 16. (150 euros per person)
Kapsaliana Village Hotel Winery in Kapsaliana, Rethymnon. July 23. (160 euros per person)
Tzitzikas restaurant in Armenia, Chania, July 30 (150 euros per person)

(4 minimum people required )  
Watch a video of the experience here: https://youtu.be/QLoyGQCd4HM


Cretan Glendi in the beautiful village of Elos
in Kisammos, Crete
hosted by the residents of Elos
(complete with dinner, live music and dancing).
August 7 at 8 p.m.

Discovering Katzantzakis’ Footsteps–Heraklion Walking Tour and lunch–
100 euros per person July 22 (5 hour walking tour).

Saint Minas 
The tour begins at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Minas. Saint Minas,
the  patron saint of Heraklion, is frequently mentioned in Kazantzakis' works.
The  area surrounding the metropolitan church was also central to Nikos Kazantzakis'  daily life. 

Kazantzakis' Neighborhood 
We will then walk through Nikos Kazantzakis' neighborhood, vividly described in  his novels. 

Lions (Morosini Fountain) 
The Lions, also known as the Morosini Fountain, is an iconic 17th-century  Venetian
fountain located in the heart of the city. We will explore its connection  
to the work and worldview of the great writer. 
Following this, we will walk through the central streets of the city towards the  
Venetian Walls, passing through the Venetian gate of Kainouria Porta and
ascending the Martinengo Bastion. 

Martinengo Bastion 
Nikos Kazantzakis' tomb is located on the Martinengo Bastion. We will pay our  respects
and admire the magnificent view from this vantage point. 
The walking tour of the city concludes at the Martinengo Bastion, from where we  will travel to Myrtia.

Heraklion - Myrtia (via Knossos and Spilia on the Old National Road) Duration: 35 minutes 

Myrtia 
Visit to the Nikos Kazantakis Museum. Duration: 1.5 hours 
The visit will include a guided tour of the museum's unique exhibits,
a screening  of the new documentary about Kazantzakis' life and work,
and an exploration of  the museum's unique interactive applications. Visitors will also have the
opportunity to explore the square surrounding the museum, view the exhibited  statues,
and tour the multi-purpose hall and museum shop. 

Traditional Lunch in the Village 
The tour concludes with a generous lunch featuring traditional Cretan
flavors at  the local taverna Kabaeti, renowned among locals and visitors. 


Soul Cooking Workshop in Chania (Kalitsounia).
Learn how to make authentic Cretan Kalitsounia 
July 12 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Cost: 40 euros, adults; 20 euros, children;
kids 12 and under 10 euros.

Two Day Excursion to Southern Crete--Zaros, Phaistos, Matala
Thursday, July 24

Visit to the ZAROS Water Company
Guided tour of the Holy Monastery of Vrontisiou
Traditional evening gathering ("veggéra") in the courtyard of Agia Kyriaki,
featuring traditional activities and a live preparation and
cooking of sarikopites (traditional Cretan pies) and fried delicacies. 
Guided tour of the only operational watermill in Crete, located nearby.

Friday, July 25

Visit to the archaeological site of Gortyna and the Archaeological Museum of Messara 
Pilgrimage to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Kaliviani
and visit to the archaeological site of Phaistos
Followed by lunch in Matala
Cretan Night will be presented, featuring a traditional Cretan dance troupe.

Saturday, July 26

After breakfast, a walk to the Lake of Zaros for coffee
Stroll through the alleyways of Zaros and visits to:
The weaving workshop with a traditional loom
The Folklore and Geological Museum of Zaros
Agia Kyriaki
The Ecclesiastical Museum of Zaros
Farewell lunch

This whole package cost is only 100 Euros per person and will include FREE bus transportation from Chania to Zaros

If we get enough youth participation we will add the following:

Walk in the Rouvas Forest and hike through the Zaros Gorge
Visit to a traditional musical instrument workshop in Zaros
Walk to the Sterna spring, with ruins of an aqueduct that once supplied ancient Gortyna with water