Gerani is a seaside, quiet village which is built along the old national road, 15 km west of Chania. The inhabitants call it ‘Palaio Gerani’, meaning ‘Old Gerani’, in order to distinguish it from the coastal settlement of ‘Ano Gerani’, meaning ‘Upper Gerani’, which is located one kilometer to the south.
The centre of the village is quite widespread and it is built around the cross point of the provincial road to Modi with the old National Road. All the amenities are provided here.
The visitor can find many cafes and restaurants, petrol station and mini-shops. You can also visit (on foot) the nearby villages of Platanias (try the bars Splendid, Tropicano, and Mylos, the taverna Mylos tou Kerata and the cafes with lovely views on the cliff) and Agia Marina (try the clubs Island and DeStihl) for more fun.
One very important characteristic of the village is the small river which passes through it to the sea. The word ‘Gerani’ comes from the way the locals were pumping water from the swallow waters 500 years ago.
The long sandy beach on the north of the village gains every year the Blue Flag; it is partly organised (not crowded) and provides all kind of facilities such as sun-chairs, umbrellas, showers, W.C. and sea sports. The blue of the sea joins with the blue or starry sky in calmness and passion.
In one small neighbourhood of the southeast Gerani a plaque on the walls of an old half-ruined house reminds that the renowned Cretan writer and journalist Ioannis Kondilakis started his career here as a teacher.
On the 15th of December Saint Eleftherios in the central church of ‘Ano Gerani’ is celebrated. On the 25th of March the Annunciation is celebrated in the central church in the ‘Palaio Gerani’. On the 8th of September the Madonna is celebrated in another small church in ‘Ano Gerani’ and on the first Friday after the Easter another small church in ‘Ano Gerani’ celebrates.
Gerani is just next to the knot of the new National Road, making it easy to travel everywhere in Crete. Its time-distance from the international airport of Akrotiri and the Souda port is about half an hour, if you come from the new National Road. There are also frequent buses from the center of Chania.
