Kokkino Chorio

Kokkino Chorio is a small, traditional Greek village situated on the rugged coast with magnificent across Souda Bay to the Akrotiri Peninsular. To the south the White Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop. The village is famous for its role in the film of “Zorbas the Greek’ based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis the internationally famous Cretan writer. Still the owner of the local ‘kafenion’ in the centre of the village is proud to talk about Antony Quinn and show his photographs.

 A small glass workshop on the outskirts of Kokkino Chorio recycles glass to produce items from “blown” glass. This process can be observed in the mornings and purchases can be made of beautiful lamps and glass ornaments produced.

Overlooking Kokkino Chorio is the strangely shaped  Drapanokefala Mountain or Calapodha (so named during the Venetian occupation). The coastline northwest of the village is an extremely interesting place for experienced walkers, with its ground formation and caves, such as the caves of Petsi (or Karavotopos) and Katalimata, which is located at the centre of the village.  At cape Drapano, approximately 10 metres under water, is the impressive Elephant Cave, an area 60m² full of stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes and colours.