Galaxidi
The photogenic coastal town of Galaxidi lies on the northern shores of the Corinthian gulf, in central Greece.
A former wealthy and busy port, Galaxidi has managed to preserve much of the previous glory of its maritime history, exhibited in the town’s compact Nautical Museum.
This city is now known as a famous yachting destination. Its waterfront and picturesque streets are decorated with lovely two-story traditional buildings, cozy cafés, and Greek tavernas. One of the town’s most popular cultural events is alevromoutzouroma, held on the first day of Lent, or Clean Monday.
The custom commands that participants blacken their faces with coal and throw colored flour at each other, creating a wonderfully colorful buzz.
Agios Nikolaos
The lovely town of Agios Nikolaos is situated on beautiful Mirabelo Bay, on the northeastern shore of Crete. The town was named after the ninth-century Byzantine chapel of Saint Nicolas and was built as a service port for eastern Crete due to its excellent location.
Facing the sea on three sides, Agios Nikolaos has several waterfronts that are packed with cafés, shops, and restaurants that offer a wide selection of shopping and dining.
Its most extraordinary feature is the beautiful lagoon of Voulismeni, which consists of a deep body of water connected to the sea by a narrow inlet, which, according to legend, is bottomless.
When in Agios Nikolaos, you can visit the infamous ‘leper island’ of Spinalonga, place of quarantine of lepers until 1957, which was featured in Victoria Hislop’s historical novel The Island.
Sources: The Culture Trip, photos from Shutterstock
