Sougia ( el, Σούγια) is a community and a small village in Chania regional unit on the island of

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

. It is part of the municipal unit of

East Selino East Selino ( el, Ανατολικό Σέλινο) is a former municipality in the Chania regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kantanos-Selino, of which it is a municipal unit. The mun ...

(''Anatoliko Selino''). It is located on the south coast of the island, 70 km south of

Chania Chania ( el, Χανιά ; vec, La Canea), also spelled Hania, is a city in Greece and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north west coast of the island Crete, about west of Rethymno and west of Heraklion. The muni ...

. The community consists of the following villages (population in 2011): *Sougia, pop. 136 * Koustogerako, pop. 44 *Livadas, pop. 17 *Moni, pop. 23 Sougia is reached from Chania by car in 2 hours or by ferry boats from

Palaiochora Palaiochora ( el, Παλαιόχωρα or Παλιόχωρα) is a small town in Chania regional unit, Greece. It is located 70 km south of Chania, on the southwest coast of Crete and occupies a small peninsula 400 m wide and 700 m long. Th ...

Agia Roumeli Agia Roumeli ( el, Αγιά Ρούμελη) is a small village in southwest Crete, Greece and is popular with tourists. Background Located a few kilometers above the town is the southern entrance to the Samaria Gorge. For most walkers, this is ...

, Loutro and

Hora Sfakion Image:Chora Sfakion 1941 evacuation monument.jpg, 200px, Monument commemorating the evacuation during WW2 of British and ANZAC forces from Hora Sfakion in May 1941. ''Click on the left plaque for a closer view'' rect 198 536 320 1082 rect 0 0 900 ...

. Although it is not one of the larger towns of the province of

Selino Selino is a historical region and a former province of Crete. It is located in the remote southwestern corner of the island, in the Chania regional unit. It is a rugged and remote area in the foothills of the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) and also ...

, Sougia is interesting to the tourist, providing a beach, walkways, mountains and interesting remains of an ancient city and old

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

churches. Sougia has some tourist services, such as small hotels, rooms to rent and a few taverns, cafes and bars. Sougia was the ancient city of

Syia Syia or Suia ( grc, Συῒά), also Syba (Σύβα),''Stadiasmus Maris Magni'' §§ 321-322. was a maritime town of ancient Crete. It was located on the south coast of Crete and functioned as the harbour of Elyrus. According to the ''Stadiasmus M ...

, a harbour of

Elyros Elyrus or Elyros ( grc, Ἔλυρος) was a town of ancient Crete, which the ''Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax'' places between Cydonia and Lissus. It had a harbour, Syia (Συΐα), situated on the south coast of the island, 60 stadia west of Poecila ...

. In the village church, an important basilica of the Byzantine era, was found a beautiful mosaic, now exposed in Chania's

Archeological Museum An archaeology museum is a museum that specializes in the display of archaeological Types Many archaeology museum are in the open air, such as the Ancient Agora of Athens and the Roman Forum. Others display artifacts inside buildings, such as Na ...

. In 1943, during German occupation, Germans razed the villages Livadas, Moni and Koustogerako, by way of reprisal for local partisan actions. Legends also suggest that the Cyclops in Odysseus' adventure lived in Sougia. Municipality officer: Nikolas Koltsidis

References

External links

Sougia InfoCrete picturesCrete mapBeaches of CreteLocal sougia taxi
{{Kantanos-Selino div Populated places in Chania (regional unit)