User:Itzortzak/sandbox

= Kokkinos Pyrgos = Kokkinos Pyrgos (i.e. Red Tower, in Greek: Κόκκινος Πύργος) is a small port village (a blooming beach resort) in the south of the Greek island of Crete. It belongs to the municipality of Festos. It is located about 67km west of Heraklion, close to the town of Tymbaki, between Matala (15 kilometer distance) and Agia Galini (10 kilometer distance). Its name suggests a red clay(?) tower, of which nothing is known. The climate of the region is generally warm (and many times windy!) and many locals grow fresh vegetables in greenhouses. Kokkinos Pyrgos is a great resort if you want to explore the villages, archaeological sites (Phaestos, Agia Triada, Gortys), beaches and beauties of Messara Plain or, in general, of South Crete. 

The area
The harbor of Kokkinos Pyrgos, offers docking facilities for sailing and fishing boats. In front of the village, there is a very long sandy beach, which starts here and extends for several kilometers to the southeast, till Kommos. This long beach hosts several loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) that lay their eggs in the sand during summer. The sea turtles and the nests are protected by several organizations. The beach of Kokkinos Pirgos is open to the west winds. It starts on the east from the wire-fence of the military airport of Tymbaki and runs to the west, till Agia Galini.The eastern part of the beach, from the port till the airport, is named Katalyki. Katalyki is a well-organized beach with umbrellas and sunbeds. There is a seaside road running along the coast with many cafes and restaurants, making this place popular for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or just for a coffee or a drink.

The beach of the area stretching west of the harbor is named Kakoscalo or Makrimaliana. This is not organized and is completely remote. It's only you, the sun, and the sand. One may also be impressed by the rock formations which have been sculpted by wind and sea.

Category:Crete Category:Kokkinos Pyrgos Category:Greece Category:Cretan villages

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