As we leave Souda on the way towards Rethymno, we can make a detour to visit ancient Aptera and the village of Stylos. As we leave the main road, we come to the pretty village of Malaxa, which stands at an altitude of 500 metres with a superb view of the plain of Chania and Souda Bay. There is the Industry Park and the art village. The industry park of Chania was constructed in 1993, seven kilometres east from the city of Chania, in the municipal district of Tsikalaria (municipality of Souda). It consists of 87 buildings, where small industries are hosted in an area century BC.
Regarding to Aptera it was one of the most important city-states of Crete. The first epigraphic occurrence of its name is found in the Linear B tablets (14th - 13th century B.C.). The history of the city continued through the centuries until the 7th century A.D., when an earthquake destroyed it. Its ideal location was determinative for its development in an important commercial and political centre. Built at the 7th Century - Aptera stands on top of a hill 200 metres high. At our feet are the blue waters of Souda Bay, with the Akrotiriou headland jutting into the open sea in the distance. To the south, in the other direction, is the mountain scenery of the White Mountains, which for most of the year retain their snow caps that give them their name.
New finds in February 2006 at Aptera by Greek archaeologists unearthed the fortifications of a 2,350-year-old city marked by extensive signs of siege. Of particular importance to research on Aptera's history were signs of battles from the post-Classical era, and the discovery of newborn infants buried near the tower.
Other finds included two well-preserved burial chambers, one of which still retains its subterranean stairs and anteroom. One of the chambers, which had been looted probably during later Christian times, contained clay figures of female forms and Eros, the ancient Greek god of love
According to myth, its name (wingless) comes from the story of the Sirens, who in their rage over being defeated in a contest of music by the Muses tore the feathers from their wings. Then, white and naked, they drifted down to drowned in the sea, forming the Lefkes (white) islands at the mouth of Souda Bay. On the site there are the remains of the theatre, of a building with inscriptions of a Greek temple to Demeter, and of the large Roman water tanks, which have all survived in excellent condition. There are also more recent buildings, including a Venetian monastery to St John, Statues, inscriptions, pottery and many coins showing the heads of Hera and Artemis have been discovered here. A little way below Aptera is the beautiful village of Stylos. We return to the main road and enter the village of Megala Chorafia, where we turn left, along the road close to the coast.
Georgioupoli is a beautiful coastal village on the Armyros plain. It used to be called Almyros or Armyroupoli, but was renamed in honour of Prince George, High Commissioner of Crete. The river Armyros, which rises in Lake Kournas flows into the sea here. There is a popular square with tall eucalyptus trees. The village has an exceptionally good beach 9k in length with fine white sands, which is completely protected from the northwest winds.
Lake Kourna is easy accessible from Georgioupoli, after we have crossed the bridge over the national road 6k on there is an asphalt road that goes to the lake and village of Kournas. This is the only lake on Crete, which collects water from the mountains around it. In antiquity it was known under the name of Korisia, and was the site of a sanctuary dedicated to Korisia Athina. Its modern name is derived from the Arabic word ‘Kourna’, meaning “lake”. Wild buddleia and myrtle form a green garland around the shores of the lake-giving rise to a romantic atmosphere that at the same time has both its wild and gentle aspect. There are two springs in the lake. The first is on the southeast shore, and is only visible in autumn beneath the wild fig trees. Nearby is another spring that the villagers call Mati. The surface of the lake is 25-35m above sea level. In the lakebed, which is 25m below sea level, there is a swallow-hole into which the waters flow and reappear 4k away at the springs of Almirou. It is for this reason that the lake never overflows. South of the lake, in the place called Keratide, there is the cave of Kournas. It was discovered in 1961 and boasts a wealth of rock formations (stalagmites, stalactites). The landscape around the lake is wonderful.
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