Crete's blog

On the hill of Prophet Ilias, at the Akrotiri peninsula, you can find the Tombs of Eleftherios and Sofoklis Venizelos. This peninsula is located at the north-east of Chania city and it is protecting the Souda bay from the north winds. These tombs have approximately 5Km distance from Chania.

Eleftherios Venizelos was one of the greatest politicians of the Greek history at 20th century. His son, Sofoklis Venizelos, was a politician too and has been Prime Minister of Greece for 9 years. Eleftherios Venizelos is admired by Cretans for his radical changes in the administration of Greece and for his prestige against Greek people. He died in Paris in 1936, away from his country. He has indicated this place for his tomb as his last residence, near the place he loved so much.

This tombs are impressively simple, plain and severe in their construction.

The area around the tombs is shaped with a beautiful garden, seats for visitors, a park and stone-built paths. Thousands of people visit this place every year to see the tombs and admire the great view to Chania city and Cretan sea.

There is also the stone-built statue of Liberty here, which represents the battles of Cretans for their freedom.