Charkia: Embracing the Allure of Strength and Self-Sufficiency

Seventeen kilometres away from Rethymno lies Charkia (or Charchia). As we traverse through the olive groves, approximately 1.5 kilometres after Agia Triada, the scenery undergoes a sudden transformation. The once cultivated fields and olive trees give way to extensive rocky expanses. Marvelling at this formidable and untamed landscape, we arrive in the village of Charkia after about 5.5 kilometres, a place noted by Barozzi as Charchia as early as 1577.

The village itself, small and relatively secluded, exudes the charm of resilience and self-sufficiency.

Within Charkia, you'll find the church dedicated to its patron saint, Agia Anna, while just outside stands a majestic oak tree acknowledged as a natural monument.

At its southern exit, an elegant monument stands as a tribute to the heroic ancestors of the village, preserving their memory.

Source: Municipality of Rethymno

Photo by Marita Mones on Unsplash