18°C
Aghia Pelagia is one of THE most popular summer destinations in the Heraklion prefecture. This is 21 km from Heraklion and has a long beach of some 450m with fine sand.
Often horrendously busy, you will always find a crowd of people about. The water is crystalline, blue and almost always calm as the sea here is shut in within the bay that opens to the east, and so is protected from the northerly winds.
It is fully organized with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, a lifeguard, water-sports .. you name it, it’s there! A diving school operates too. The village has many tavernas, restaurants, cafeterias, bars – and a choice of hotels of all grades, rentable rooms and apartments for your sojourn.
On the north side of Aghia Pelagia, in a cave there was found an icon of this saint, after which the village is named – and as a result the cave is named the Discovery. After its finding, a monastery to the saint was built about a kilometer off, but it no longer exists. Cristofero Buondelmonti mentioned the beach in his book A Description of the Isle of Crete (1412): also the fact that many pilgrims came there to bury whatever part of them was diseased or unwell in the sands, in the hope of a release from whatever was making their life a misery.
To get to Aghia Pelagia, you will take the main north-coast road west out of Heraklion, and turn off at the appropriate exit, when you see the sign. Other signs will then guide you down to the village and the beach.
To the east of Heraklion are many lovely and lively beaches. Some such are in the area called the Vatheiano Kampos (or Plain).
Αμμώδης
Ναι - Πολλές επιλογές
Ναι - Πολλές επιλογές
Ναι - πολλές επιλογές
Όχι
The Rural Greece is an online portal that connects travellers with unique destinations and local businesses in the countryside, offering authentic experiences through activities that highlight nature, traditions and culture.
For the Rural Greece accessibility is fundamental to enhancing an inclusive tourism experience. Following the principles of inclusion and equality, the epaithros Rural Tourism Network and its member businesses are constantly working to enhance the tourism services provided, ensuring that all visitors have the opportunity to experience the authentic beauty of the Greek countryside.
Sustainability in tourism refers to a way of developing tourism that respects and protects the environment while strengthening the local economy and preserving cultural traditions. The aim of sustainable tourism is to provide unique and authentic experiences for visitors without harming the natural and social environment, while ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism activity.
This type of tourism is based on three pillars:
With sustainable tourism, visitors can have authentic experiences, knowing that the impact of tourism on the region is positive and lasting for future generations.
For Rural Greece, localism is one of the most important factors for the development of sustainable tourism, as it promotes a strong link between the tourism product and the local society, economy and culture. Through localism, visitors get the opportunity to explore authentic elements of the destination, such as local products, traditions and culture. This not only boosts the local economy, but also helps to sustain and strengthen local businesses, creating new jobs and supporting the development of local communities.
Furthermore, localism contributes to the sustainability of the tourism sector, as it reduces the use of resources from other regions and encourages the use of local goods and services, reducing the ecological footprint of tourism activities. Thus, integrating localism into tourism practices enhances sustainability awareness, both among visitors and local businesses, creating a more responsible and sustainable tourism destination.
