{"id":2659,"date":"2022-04-25T19:39:53","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T16:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepaleochorasite.com\/bobsblog\/?p=2659"},"modified":"2022-08-30T12:17:50","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T09:17:50","slug":"botanical-park-and-gardens-of-crete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepaleochorasite.com\/bobsblog\/botanical-park-and-gardens-of-crete\/","title":{"rendered":"Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Just a short walk this month, in fact only 2.5 km, but one with a difference.  The Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete are situated at the foot of the White Mountains, just 18 km south of Chania on the main road to Omalos, through Alikianos and Fournes.  Without a car, KTEL buses to the Samaria Gorge pass the entrance, and there’s a direct service to the Park leaving Chania bus station daily in summer at 9.30am, returning at 2.30pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history of the Gardens is fascinating.  In 2003 a massive fire devastated this area (Skordalou) destroying some 100,000 mature olive trees, many aged more than 400 years.  Over the next seven years the family owners redesigned the landscape, built pathways, and imported trees and shrubs from around the world.  Now the park, opened in 2010, and situated on a steep hillside overlooking a winding river valley, covers nearly 20 hectares (200 km 2).<\/p>