Vamos is located 26 km east of Chania and it is one of the most attractive, traditional villages in Crete. Through sustainable development, it promotes an alternative form of tourism, a traditional way of life.
Through participation in local activities, the visitor learns to cook traditional recipes with local, fresh ingredients, they gather aromatic and medicinal herbs from the surrounding slopes and learn about their properties, visit producers and learn how to prepare local products. Depending on the time of year, they participate in the harvest of oranges until May, grapes in September and olives in winter. They learn the ways of producing olive oil, raki, wine and honey. These pleasant experiences build meaningful relationships with the locals and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the area.
The village is very welcoming and calm. Here the visitor stays in traditional, renovated villas and enjoys the natural landscape. The long history is reflected in the houses of the village. The large houses, the konakia, and the small ones, the arched houses, are typical examples of the architecture of a glorious past. The old renovated school (1863) with the Girls' School, which is now used as a Guest house, the beautiful old buildings, the traditional cafes, the taverns and the uphill alleys enchant the visitor. Taverns offer traditional food in beautiful courtyards with plane trees. Greek salads and salads with mountain greens, cooked dishes, dakos, meatballs, roast in the wood oven, cuttlefish with fennel, fava beans, artichokes, rooster cooked in wine and finally yogurt with sweet sour cherry and raki for a treat.
Around the village there are still many beautiful places to visit. 2 kilometers east of Vamos, there is the monastery of Agios Georgios in Karydi, with the amazing olive mill of 1860s with the 12 arches. The size of the olive mill testifies to the large production of olive oil at the time.
The historical folklore museum in Gavalochori, 3 km to the south, is housed in a building, a typical example of local traditional architecture. Exhibits include the furniture and utensils of a traditional house, Cretan costumes, wedding dresses made with kopaneli, a type of handmade lace, wood carvings, weapons, swords and warrior medals, church utensils and coins.
Many buildings, public and private, have been classified as preserved due to their traditional architecture in Douliana village. Walking through the old winding alleys in the village and on the old stone, Byzantine Road, which for centuries was part of the road network of the area, is a must.
Besides the nearby villages, there are beautiful beaches near Vamos. Kalyves and Almyrida, 6 and 8 km away, are organized sandy beaches suitable for water sports. Ombrosgialos is a rocky bay, ideal for snorkeling and diving.
Vamos is the true side of Crete that the visitor will surely love and enjoy.
(More articles about Crete on www.gomega.gr)
