Monastery - Ancient Olive tree & Museum-Cretan Brewery Private Tour from Chania

The Monastery of Metamorphosis (Transfiguration) is located approx. 10 km south of the city of Chania in the area Varypetros. This newly built monastery situated on a rocky hill under the ruins of the Byzantine castle “Kastellos” is part of the Monastery of Chrisopigi. This expansion is a continuation of the century long ascetic tradition of the monastery. The aim is the creation of an assemblage, where the structured and unstructured space is in balance so as to highlight the natural environment and its harmonious relationship with the buildings. This place was blessed with the presence, in 2002, of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who walked along the paths of the region and laid the foundation stone of the new monastery temple, dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus.

The Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves

The Olive tree of Vouves is probably one of the oldest olive trees in the world, which remains productive to this day. The exact age of the tree cannot be determined. While tree ring analysis demonstrated the tree to be at least 2000 years old, scientists from the University of Crete have estimated it to be 4000 years old. In 1997 it was declared a protected natural monument and, in October 2009, the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves was inaugurated in a nearby 19th-century house, displaying traditional tools used in the process of olive cultivation. As of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, olive branches “kotinos” from this ancient olive tree were used for the wreath of Marathon winners in every Olympic game. Every year over 20,000 people from all over the world visit this ancient tree.

The Cretan Brewery is located in Zounaki village, just 25 km away from Chania city center in the municipality of Platanias and is accommodated in a highly sophisticated industrial installation of 1500 m^2 surrounded by orange trees and olive groves. The Cretan Brewery uses high quality malts from both Greece and Belgium, hops from all over the world and crystal water from the White Mountains of Crete to brew the Charma beer, the first beer from Chania, blonde or dark, full flavored, aromatic, refreshing and easy to drink, an established choice for both local people and visitors.