Paleochora
Probably it has been built on the ruins of ancient kalamidi. In 1282 the Venetians built the historic Kastello Selino after which the Selino district was named, previously known as "Orina". The township we know as Paleochora was finally established at the end of 1800. The fortress, which dominates a small peninsula and commands a lovely view over the Libyan sea, was built and destroyed again and again by the Venetians, the Turks, Barbarossa's pirates and later by Cretan rebels and Germans during the Second World War. At the present Paleochora is a wonderful large village, with lots of tourists, because of the great beach and warm sea. There are many hotels, rooms for rent, taverns, bars, outdoor cinemas, doctor's office and a nudist beach on the East side. Paleochora is also the starting point , for a visit by boat to Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Samaria Gorge, Sfakia and Gavdos island. Worth visiting is the Venetian castle (Kastello Selino) which you can admire in the west side. Bear also in mind that from paleochora there is access to the three gorges in Southern Crete; Samaria, Aghia Irene (St. Irene) and the Anidri gorge which is the closest. You can get to Paleochora by suburban bus service (KTEL) from Chania, by car if you take the road to Kissamos exiting south at Tavronitis village. (74 km South-West of Chania).
Sougia
It is the ancientSiyia, haven of Elyros. The name originates rather from the word "sis"=pig, namely pigtown. It appears that there were forests of oak and holly trees, and there was a systematic rearing of pigs. The bed of the waterfall of Lakou Zografou divided the still remaining ruins of the old town into two parts. On the western side there was a well-defended port which today, with the geological rise of western Crete has disappeared. The greatest part of Siyia was on Eastern side where even today we can see reservoirs, relics of ancient buildings, hot springs and parts of the city walls. The ancient town flourished both in the Roman times and during the Byzantine period. East of Souyia is the famous gorge of Tripiti, with a beautiful bay at the exit of the ravine. At the present, Souyia is a small picturesque harbour, which offers a great beach, hotels, rooms for rent and taverns. Worth visiting is the village church, which has 6th century mosaics of saints and roebucks and the ancient village of Lisso which has an ancient theatre and baths. You can get to Sougia by suburban bus service (KTEL) from Chania, or by car if you take the road to Sougia. (70 km South-West of Chania).
Lissos
One and a half hour walk or twenty minutes by boat (west of Souyia) is the ancient seaside town of Lissos, famous for its curative springs. It's the only town in Western Crete, together with Irtakina, where they had cut gold coins, on which the head of Diana and the dolphin with the word "Lission" were depicted. It is worth visiting the Asklepion temple of Dorian style, were many statues were discovered, a few in the natural size of Asklepios, of Eyias (health), of Pluto, as well as many inscribed pedestals of statues which mention their being offerings to Asklepios or to Eyia. The floor is of mosaic with fine multicoloured pebbles, of complex geometric shapes and pictures of animals. Lissos had a reservoir, a theatre and hot springs since Roman times. However these have not yet been excavated. It flourished in the Hellenistic, but chiefly in the Roman period and in the Byzantine era. From the Byzantine period we have the ruins of two early Christian basilici with mosaic floors, where today stand the chapels of the Virgin Mary and St Kirkos (St Kyriakos).