Perivólia can be understood through two distinct local landmarks: Garipa, with its Byzantine heritage, and the area around Heroes’ Square, with accommodation and local facilities. The square provides a specific reference point when choosing accommodation; Garipa represents the cultural aspect of the area. When planning, you can first consider which of these facets is of particular interest for your stay.
Understanding Garipa and Perivólia
Garipa, also known as Boutsounaria, is the last neighborhood of Perivólia before the entrance to the Theriso Gorge. The name thus refers to a specific part of Perivólia. Garipa is associated with historical memories and a rich Byzantine religious heritage. For travelers interested in Byzantine religious history, this is a distinctive cultural point of reference; the place name also helps locate this connection within Perivólia.
Getting your bearings around Heroes’ Square
Around Heroes’ Square in Perivólia, there are tavernas, cafés and accommodation, as well as a primary school and a municipal stadium. The area around the square thus brings together places to eat and facilities used in everyday local life. If you are considering Perivólia as a place to stay, you can look at these two reference points separately: the area around the square and Garipa’s cultural significance.
Chania as a broader destination
In the broader destination of Chania, the cultural spectrum ranges from historic architecture to archaeology. Chania’s Old Town features Venetian mansions, old hammams, minarets and churches along its historic streets. The Venetian Harbour of Chania was built in the 14th century for trade and to protect against pirate raids. Chania’s Δημοτική αγορά is a landmark for both locals and visitors.
Archaeology is also represented in the broader destination of Chania. The permanent exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Chania occupies three galleries on the ground floor and one gallery upstairs. It presents archaeological evidence from the regional unit of Chania spanning several centuries. On the Acropolis of Falassarna, mainly Archaic finds were unearthed in the central area of the ancient Temple of Demeter. These examples offer different perspectives: museum collections alongside a specific archaeological context.
Theriso is another historic focal point in the broader destination of Chania. During the 1905 Revolution under Eleftherios Venizelos, the historic village served as the seat of the Cretan insurgents. The Historical and Folklore Museum of Theriso is housed in the former headquarters of Venizelos and the Theriso Movement of 1905. The Eleftherios Venizelos Gorge, through which the village is reached, is 6 kilometers long in total. Thus, within the destination of Chania, local history, a museum in a historically connected building and a landscape detail sit side by side.
The broader destination of Chania also includes areas on Akrotiri that contribute to its landscape. There are small coves and beaches suitable for relaxation and tourism. In the northern hills of Akrotiri, nature remains largely undisturbed by human activity; the landscape features rich, partly endemic flora, as well as land and sea caves with endemic invertebrates. These natural features differ markedly from Garipa’s religious heritage and the historic highlights of Chania and Theriso.
Discover more destinations: Provarma, Vamos, Kounoupidiana, Kissamos, Pemonia, Louchio, Ayía Roúmeli, Kalívai.
Back to the broader travel guide: Chania.
