Kefalas combines an elevated setting among hills of the same name with churches from several periods and a history of building craftsmanship. For travellers who consider culture and local history when choosing where to stay, these are concrete points of reference: the village can be located geographically and understood through traces from different periods. Churches, a former community school and a small folklore museum represent different aspects of the village’s character. Together, they give Kefalas a clear cultural identity.

Location among the hills

Kefalas lies at an altitude of 352 metres among hills of the same name, which extend from Drapanokefala to Georgioupoli. The elevation locates the village; the extent of the hills provides an additional geographical frame of reference. In this way, the location answers a different question from the cultural history: it describes the village’s elevation and relationship to the hills, while the churches and craftsmanship offer historical reference points. Travellers weighing up several destinations can consider this location as a geographical point of reference alongside the cultural themes. The elevation and the extent of the hills answer different geographical questions.

Churches from several centuries

The oldest church in Kefalas is the Church of the Holy Cross, dating from the 16th century. Panagia, Agios Antonios and Michael the Archangel are examples of folk architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The two periods show that the building history is not associated with just one era: the Holy Cross provides an earlier historical reference point, while the three other churches represent a later architectural tradition. The term “folk architecture” places these churches within a locally rooted building culture.

School and folklore museum

The former community school of Kefalas now houses the Vamos Environmental Education Centre. A small folklore museum is located next to the community school; its collection includes old photographs, examples of textile art and objects from everyday life in the past. This brings two distinct historical perspectives together in this part of the village’s character: the school building’s current institutional use and a collection that evokes earlier ways of life. This is a different kind of local history from sacred architecture: alongside churches that can be dated and the building’s current institutional use are collection items relating to everyday life in the past.

Craftsmanship and local history

A bust of Captain Mathios Milonoyiannis stands in the central square of Kato Kefalás. Its association with a named square gives this detail a different character from the churches, which are dated to particular periods, and the museum collection. Kefalas was once an important village of stonemasons and other building tradespeople. This historic craft tradition draws attention to the former importance of those working in the building trades, while the churches are concrete structures that mark different periods.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kontomari, Zourva, Kavallos, Theriso, Omalós, Perivólia, Kalami Souda, Faleliana

For the overview of the wider area: Chania.