Sellía: Mountain Village Overlooking Bays and Gavdos

Sellía is a traditional, lively mountain village. Its location, views and historic buildings give the place a distinct character. Both the landscape and local history are relevant when choosing a destination here. A village description updated on June 8, 2023, gives Sellía’s total population as 316. Traditional festivals in Sellía include sheep shearing, the grape harvest, a fishing festival, traditional cuisine, and a raki and tourism festival; these events cover rural, maritime and culinary themes.

Mountain Setting and Views

Sellía stretches across a mountain saddle on the southeastern slope of 1,310-meter-high Krioneritis. The village lies at an elevation of about 280 meters and extends along the slopes of two hills. Views from Sellía reach Plakias Bay, Souda Bay and the island of Gavdos; the Libyan Sea is also in view. The setting thus combines a mountain saddle and several slopes with views of bays and an island.

Churches and Local History

Sellía is home to 15 churches dating from the Byzantine period. These include Agios Fotis, in the eastern part of the settlement. Below Sellía lies the Chapel of Saints Fotios and Anikito. It dates from the 14th century, and some frescoes are still preserved on its north wall. The larger group of Byzantine churches and the single chapel offer distinct points of emphasis in terms of time and place. For travelers interested in sacred architecture, this creates a clear connection between the buildings, their period and their location around the village.

The monastery’s history adds another perspective on the past. Its reconstruction was completed in April 2023; afterward, the monastery housed the Sellía local history and ecclesiastical museum.

Kotsifou Gorge Nearby

Kotsifou Gorge offers another point of reference in the landscape. Its entrance is near Sellía, and the gorge forms the northern approach to the village. It stretches from Kanevos to Plakias: its proximity to the village and its greater extent provide two distinct points of reference. The gorge can be viewed from the road; road conditions may vary. If you plan to view it from the road, check the current conditions before setting out.

Travel Information

Sellía has tavernas and coffee houses. The village is about 35 kilometers from Rethymno. Together with its mountain setting and historic buildings, these provide regional and local points of reference for planning your trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Sellía, you can consider whether the mountain landscape, sacred architecture or nearby gorge is the main draw for you.

Discover more destinations: Stavromenos, Panormos, Maroulas, Vlichada, Kato Rodakino, Argiroupoli, Triopetra, Viranepiskopi.

For the broader travel overview: Rethymno.