Stalos has two districts in different locations: mountainous Pano Stalos and seaside Kato Stalos. The village also has a 2 km-long sandy beach. If you are looking for accommodation for a stay in Stalos, you can use the distinction between the districts as a first point of reference, then check which specific address suits your plans. The beach, the village’s layout and its history offer different points of reference when choosing a destination.
Pano Stalos or Kato Stalos?
The village’s layout offers a simple starting point: Pano Stalos is the mountainous part, while Kato Stalos is by the sea. If being by the sea is important to you, you can focus your search on Kato Stalos; if you prefer a mountainous location, Pano Stalos is the relevant name.
The two districts also tell part of the village’s history. Historically, most residents lived in Pano Stalos. Only a few lived in the village’s barren coastal area. This contrasts the earlier settlement pattern with today’s interest in being by the sea: historically, the coast was much less densely populated than the mountainous district.
Sandy beach and getting to the beach
The sandy beach in Stalos is 2 km long. It has sections with sunbeds and umbrellas, as well as quieter areas of sand. When planning your visit, you can distinguish between beach sections with different amenities and quieter areas. Beach facilities may change. If sunbeds or umbrellas are important for your visit, check in advance which areas currently have them.
The beach is also accessible by taxi, car or bicycle. In addition, it is regularly served by Chania’s public bus service. If you plan to take the bus, check the current timetable before travelling. This can help you fit a beach visit into your day without relying on a specific departure time.
Traditional crafts in Kato Stalos
Brickmaking is also part of Stalos’s history. Some families in Kato Stalos made bricks and roof tiles, firing them in traditional hand-operated kilns. The craftwork thus involved both building materials for walls and roof tiles; these were fired in kilns operated by hand. Together with the historical settlement pattern, this offers a picture of the village that takes account of both its districts and its earlier working traditions.
Culture in the wider Chania destination
The wider Chania destination offers other cultural topics to explore in their own right. The permanent exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Chania comprises three ground-floor galleries and one upstairs gallery. It presents archaeological finds from the Chania regional unit spanning several centuries. The exhibition’s layout, as well as the chronological range of the finds, can help guide visitors as they explore them.
Chania’s Old Town also offers a glimpse into different architectural styles: its narrow streets are lined with Venetian mansions, old hammams, minarets and churches. The Venetian Harbour of Chania was built in the 14th century for trade and protection against pirate attacks. Another urban landmark is Chania’s Δημοτική αγορά, which is important to both locals and visitors.
The historic village of Theriso was the seat of the Cretan insurgents during the 1905 Revolution under Eleftherios Venizelos. The Historical and Folklore Museum of Theriso is housed in the former headquarters of Venizelos and the 1905 Theriso Movement. The Eleftherios Venizelos Gorge is 6 km long in total; the road through it leads to the historic village of Theriso. These places bring together landscape and history within the wider Chania destination, while Stalos has a different focus: its own village layout, sandy beach and craft tradition.
Discover more destinations: Kalívai, Agia Marina, Drapanias, Kamisiana, Kokkino Chorio, Dramia, Kontopoula, Georgioupoli
See the wider travel guide: Chania.
