Apokoronas
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Apokoronas is a region of north-west Crete, in Chania Prefecture, to the east of Chania itself.
The Apokoronas extends from the foothills of the White Mountains north to the coast, in a wide plain with rolling hills. To the east, Cape Drapanon rises above the plain and extends out into the Sea of Crete. The area is very green and fertile, unusual for rocky Crete. The Kiliaris river, known in antiquity as 'Pyknos', runs through the region. Robert Pashley suggested that the name 'Apokoronas' came from the ancient city of Ippokoronas or Ippokoronion, also cited by Strabo. This city may have been located near modern Nippos, or on the site of the Venetian fortress, Castel Apicorono, on an outcrop between Kalives and Almirida. The major towns of Apokoronas are Vamos, Armeni and Vrisses, with police, municipal and utility offices as well as taverns and large churches; Kalives, Almirida and Georgioupolis are the largest beach resorts. Tourism and agriculture are the major local industries, with much construction and quarrying to satisfy the demands of many foreigners eager to buy or rent properties in what used to be beautiful and traditional villages. Gavalohori and Megala Horafia are among the more popular villages for foreign buyers, with a large amount of often low-quality building taking place. Many residents or workers in Chania also have homes in the area.
Apokoronas is a province of Greece with its capital at Vamos. The area is divided into several municipalities, within Chania prefecture, which hold most local authority. The municipalities of the Apokoronas are:
- Armeni
- Fres
- Georgioupolis
- Krionerida
- Vamos
- Asi Gonia (community)
Apokoronas was the location of much of the filming of the movie Zorba the Greek.
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