Gerani Village

The coastal settlement of Gerani is on the road from Hania to Kissamos, 14km west of Chania> Gerani extends from Platanias bridge to the village Pirgos Psilonerou. There are two villages: Pano Gerani (the old village) as distinct from the coastal settlement of Kato Gerani (the new village) located one kilometer to the north.

Gerani Beach

Awarded every year with the Blue Flag , Gerani Beach – a quiet, flat stretch of sand which continues to Maleme Beach and Platanias Beach – is organized and clean, and provides quite a lot facilities such as sundchairs, umbrellas, shower, W.C. and sea sports.
In the area there are a few large hotels offering many amenities, and many small family ones which provide a quiet, family environment. The visitor may choose from many alternatives covering all tastes.

About Gerani

There are bars, tavernas, car and bike rentals, travel agencies, shops, super-markets, a pharmacy; everything to make the visitor's stay comfortable and interesting.

Away from the coastal road and the National Highway, small roads cut through orange groves, tall cypresses, plane trees, and eucalyptus where you will find scattered and picturesque unspoiled villages, with small local traditional cafes – ‘kafenions'- serving Greek coffee and ‘raki', a local clear spirit. It is worth taking a walk into these villages in the area and enjoying the unspoiled Cretan way of life and hospitality. Gerani, Pano Gerani, old Platanias, old Agia Marina, Modi, Loutraki and Manoliopoulo are small villages all within 10 km each other.

The foundations of the first German cemetery are still visible in Kato Gerani, although the cemetary was later moved to Maleme (just a few kilometres away), where many German soldiers were buried after the Battle of Crete and the German occupation in World War Two. A little before Pano Gerani stands the monastery in a place called "Metohi Issihaki", and between the villages of Gerani and Modi a half-ruined school house. A plaque on one of its walls reminds that here the renowned Cretan writer and journalist Ioannis Kondilakis started his career as a teacher.

At Kotsifiana, a location between Gerani and Manoliopoulo, is the small church of Panagia . A patronal feast takes place here every year on September 8th and many local people gather to celebrate.

Between Vrisses and Koufos, there is a characteristic two peaks hill, on the Western bank of Platanias river (the Homeric Iardanos river). The lowest peak, is called Kastelos, and the higher is Called Ag. Georgios, because of the small church on the top of the peak, dedicated to Saint George.

According to Pococke, the area was the Homeric Kydonia, as mentioned in a Homeric verse.

There are many remarkable places waiting for you to explore and enjoy in addition to your unforgettable visit to the 2km sandy beach of Gerani where turtles can occasionally be seen from July through to August.

There many remarkable places which are awaiting for you to explore and enjoy in combination with your unforgettable visit to the beach of Gerani.

Gerani History

The village is mentioned in the census of Fr Barozzi in 1577 but its history is believed to have started centuries before. Some historians (for example E.Lambrinakis) claim that here was the exact location of ancient Kydonia and that a temple of VRITOMARTIS used to be here.

In 1867 a cruel battle took place at Gerani between the Turks and the Cretan revolutionaries. In 1798 Ioannis Papadogiorgak, the famous revolutionary (hainis), known locally as "GERANIOTIS", was born here. You will find many references to this famous local hero in the area. Event the name Gerani is derived from his name.