Kathiana can be explored through three distinct local themes: cycling, festival traditions and an old chapel with an unidentified burial. These themes range from a specific track cycling event to long-standing customs and an explicitly uncertain historical theory. The wider destination of Chania, with its own cultural and landscape themes, provides an additional context.
Cycling at the velodrome
The Chania Velodrome in Kathianá hosted the Greek Track Cycling Championships from 29 July to 1 August 2026. Another event at the velodrome was a school activity: students from the 11th Chania Primary School, the 2nd Kounoupidiana Primary School and Kounoupidiana High School took part in cycling activities. They also watched a demonstration by outstanding athletes and were given a tour of the facility. This event brought together participation, a sporting demonstration and a tour.
Local festival traditions and history
A local newspaper report dated 29 July 2011 says that various events celebrating grapes, the grape harvest and grape stomping take place in Kathiana almost every year. The same report describes a large traditional church festival held annually at the central church dedicated to the Prophet Elijah. The two festival themes have different emphases: one focuses on the harvest and grape processing, while the other is a church celebration at the main place of worship.
A local history published in 2021 describes a very old chapel in Kathiana called Christos, which was originally a monastery church. There is a grave in the chapel, but it is not known who is buried there. Local people believe that an abbess may be buried there.
Chania as a wider travel destination
Chania’s Old Town features Venetian mansions, old hammams, minarets and churches in its historic lanes. The Venetian Harbour was built in the 14th century for trade and to protect against pirate attacks. Chania’s Δημοτική αγορά is a landmark for both locals and visitors. The permanent exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Chania comprises three ground-floor galleries and one gallery upstairs; it presents archaeological evidence from the regional unit of Chania spanning several centuries.
Theriso offers another historical perspective: during the 1905 Revolution under Eleftherios Venizelos, the village was the headquarters of the Cretan insurgents. The Historical and Folklore Museum of Theriso is housed in the former headquarters of Eleftherios Venizelos and the Theriso Movement of 1905. The Eleftherios Venizelos Gorge, through which visitors reach the historic village of Theriso, is 6 km long in total.
On Akrotiri, small coves and beaches offer opportunities for recreation and tourism. Nature in the northern hilly area remains largely undisturbed by human activity. The landscape is home to rich, partly endemic flora, as well as land and sea caves with endemic invertebrates. On the Acropolis of Falassarna, mainly Archaic finds were also unearthed in the central area of the ancient Temple of Demeter.
You can focus your search on Kathiana or explore the wider destination of Chania.
Discover more destinations: Platanos, Neriana, Palaiochora, Impros, Ayía Roúmeli, Apokoronos, Marathi, Pemonia
For the wider travel overview: Chania.
