Rent a Car Plakias on Crete Island in Greece
Along the southern coast of Crete is where the seaside village and beach resort of Plakias can be found. Located in a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains to the north and the warm Libyan Sea to the south, Plakias is an ideal destination in Crete where you can enjoy a relaxing holiday. Initially, Plakias was once just a tiny fishing settlement with a few huts and small homes that catered to the needs of the local fisherman who sailed out to the Mediterranean Sea in hopes of returning with their daily catch. Throughout the decades as tourism and infrastructure developed, Plakias became a popular tourist resort that now hosts thousands of visitors from around the world who come to enjoy the excellent beaches and the peaceful environment of southern Crete. Plakias is also home to one of the longest sandy beaches in the area measuring over 1300 meters that starts from the village and extends to the east where an abundance of facilities and amenities can be found. Between the coastal road and the endless sandy beach of Plakias runs a waterfront promenade lined with fish taverns, seafood restaurants, beach bars, and open-air cafes. Behind the promenade, many hotels and studio apartments host tourists in the area. In turn, the village of Plakias is very well-organized with a wide variety of shops selling handmade crafts, Cretan souvenirs, local products, and beach necessities. There are only two roads carved into the mountain ranges that lead to the lovely beach resort of Plakias. Unfortunately, bus services to all the major cities and airports of the island are limited which is why renting a car in Plakias will prove to be your best option to fully experience and enjoy this hidden gem found in southern Crete.
Plakias Car Hire Deals in Crete
The village of Plakias along with the surrounding areas has proven to have been previously inhabited by ancient civilizations. Excavations in the area have unearthed numerous Roman artifacts proving that inhabitation once existed during the Roman Empire. Other treasures that were found also revealed the existence of an ancient Minoan settlement. Some say that Plakias is built on the site of the ancient city known as Lamon, while others believe it is built on the ancient city of Phoenix. In the neighboring mountainous villages of Mirthios and Selia, there are also signs of former civilizations that date back to the Byzantine period which was discovered when the roads and bridges were built to connect the two villages. Other findings have revealed fragments of an ancient fortified wall that sit at the top of a hill located northeast of Plakias. In Zoodochos Pigi excavations unearthed a large necropolis that contained many stone graves. Some of the graves were covered with a stone top while others were found without a covering stone revealing that they were also used for other purposes. Further excavations determined that the entire hill was full of orphan graves proving that the inhabitants of the time were preparing themselves for the inevitable, but for some reason were not used, possibly because their final end came with a series of natural disasters. Similar burial grounds and cemeteries have been found in the nearby areas.
Discover the Affordability of Plakias Car Rental
Plakias is an excellent location for exciting regional excursions to breathtaking unspoiled landscapes, nearby mountainous villages, archeological sites of historical importance, and sparkling hidden beaches. Now, this is where your Plakias rent a car comes in handy. Drive to the traditional Cretan villages of Mirithos and Selia that cling to the rocky cliffs of the mountains above Plakias. Two very hospitable villages where you can enjoy a leisurely coffee at one of the local cafes and taste the delicious Cretan dishes at a traditional tavern. Both villages also offer stunning panoramic views of the bay and the surrounding area that will take your breath away. To the southeast of Plakias located just 10 km away visit the beautiful natural surroundings of Preveli which features a historic monastery among a date palm forest and lake. The Monastery of Preveli dates back to the 10th century and due to its isolated position, it played an important role in Cretan history as it was a place where people gathered to organize a revolt against the Nazis in WW2. In the surrounding area date, palm trees line the banks of a river that flows down through a gorge and eventually meets the sea, this is where you will find Preveli Beach one of the few palm tree forested beaches in Greece. Also, visit with your Plakias car rental the church of Zoodochos Pigi which is built on the ruins of an older chapel with a collapsed southern wall. Local legend has it that during the pirate raids in Crete, a pirate ship also arrived in the bay of Plakias where pirates chased two young local girls. Feared to not be captured by the pirates the girls ran into the church seeking help from the Virgin Mary. When the pirates arrived outside of the church waiting for the girls to come out the southern wall of the church tore into two parts so the girls could escape and find a hiding place in the nearby olive groves. Continue your journey and visit the fascinating Plakias Tunnels that were carved into the steep rugged mountain used for transporting coal from one end to another, the picturesque old stone mill used for graining wheat, and the ruins of a Turkish tower known as Plakias Koules. Finally visit the popular surrounding beaches in Plakias including Souda Beach, Ammoudi Beach, Skinaria Beach, and Damnoni Beach as well as Kavros Beach found in a secluded sandy cove surrounded by 200 m high bolded rocks. All of the above and so much more can be discovered as you drive around this seaside village and its vicinity with your car hire in Plakias Crete.