Stavros

Stavros is a famous and picturesque settlement and beach in Akrotiri. If you haven’t yet encountered a corny old restaurant in white & blue, ancient Greek columns, menu consisted mainly of Musaka & Greek salad, named Zorba the Greek in your home town you’re one of the few. The original location where the famous 1960’s movie was filmed, scarring with its scenario (it was based on the homonym novel of Nikos Kazantzakis) the Greek psyche and the film lovers around the world, is the beach of Stavrós in Akrotiri.

Stavrós is still today a quiet little fish village, vibrant mainly during the Summer months, ideal for swimmers, as the circular bay provides shelter even during the windy days, very common in Crete. The combination of the pool-like bay with the high mountain rising on the other side of the small bay is unique. In a distance not far from the mountain top one can easily discern a big cave, used as a shelter from the end of the Copper age, accessible after a short but challenging uphill trek.

Once up on the mouth of the cave you will have the chance to detect another, bigger beach on the west side, unprotected from bad weather but filtered by clean currents at any time of the day due to its openness.The cantina on that beach is an ideal place to watch the sunset while drinking a cold one. Forget about your tablet for once or the French lady who ones the place will expel you from the premises (just kidding, she’s a sweetheart).