Kissamos
Encyclopedia
Kissamos is a town and municipality in the west of the island of Crete
, Greece
. It is part of the Chania peripheral unit and of the former Kissamos Province
which covers the northwest corner of the island. The city of Kissamos is also known as Kastelli-Kissamou and often known simply as Kastelli after the Venetian
castle that was there. It is now a port and fishing harbour, with a regular ferry from the Peloponnese
via Kythira
. A town museum is located in the old Venetian governor's palace and there have been important archaeological finds in the town, including fine mosaics, dating from the Roman
city of Kissamos, the port of Polirinia (ancient Polyrrhenia
). The head town of the municipality is Kastelli-Kissamos itself.
The municipal unit Kissamos includes the Gramvousa
peninsula and islets, and the islet of Pontikonisi
, and the villages of Sfinari, Koukounaras, Polirinia, Platanos, Lousakia, Sirikari, Kallergiania and Kalathena.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is part of the Chania peripheral unit and of the former Kissamos Province
Kissamos Province
Kissamos is a province of Crete. It is located in the northwestern corner of the island, in Chania Prefecture. It is in the foothills of the Lefka Ori covering two barren peninsulas and much rugged coastline, as well as relatively fertile agricultural land. This area is also very known for the...
which covers the northwest corner of the island. The city of Kissamos is also known as Kastelli-Kissamou and often known simply as Kastelli after the Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
castle that was there. It is now a port and fishing harbour, with a regular ferry from the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
via Kythira
Kythira
Cythera is an island in Greece, once part of the Ionian Islands. It lies opposite the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is administratively part of the Islands regional unit, which is part of the Attica region , Greece.For many centuries, while naval travel was the only means...
. A town museum is located in the old Venetian governor's palace and there have been important archaeological finds in the town, including fine mosaics, dating from the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
city of Kissamos, the port of Polirinia (ancient Polyrrhenia
Polyrrhenia
Polyrrhenia , is some 7km inland from Kissamos in the prefecture of Chania of Crete. It was an important Archaic Period settlement co-temporaneous with Lato and Prinias....
). The head town of the municipality is Kastelli-Kissamos itself.
Municipality
The municipality Kissamos was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:- InnachoriInnachoriInnachori is a group of villages and a former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kissamos, of which it is a municipal unit. The name means 'nine villages'. It is a shady, hilly area in the southwest of...
- Kissamos
- MythimnaMythimnaMythimna is a former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kissamos, of which it is a municipal unit...
The municipal unit Kissamos includes the Gramvousa
Gramvousa
Gramvousa, also Grambousa, Grampousa or Krampouza , further names include Akra, Cavo Buso, Cavo Bouza, Garabusa and Grabusa, are names used for two small uninhabited islands off the coast of north-western Crete in the prefecture of Chania...
peninsula and islets, and the islet of Pontikonisi
Pontikonisi
Pontikonisi is an uninhabited islet off the coast of western Crete. Administratively, it is part of Kissamos Province, in Chania Prefecture. There is a small islet close to Pontikonisi called Pontikaki .-See also:*List of islands of Greece...
, and the villages of Sfinari, Koukounaras, Polirinia, Platanos, Lousakia, Sirikari, Kallergiania and Kalathena.