Only a few years ago Platanias was mainly a rich agricultural area. Today Platanias is a cosmopolitan resort, one of the most famous in Crete. The two kilometers of clean beach offers all swimming facilities, and is awarded with the blue flag each year. The pleasant hotels, the evergreens, the orange groves and exotic bamboo along the riverbanks, draw visitors year after year. The acropolis of Platanias is situated at the top of the hill. It was there that the inhabitants of Platanias found refuge from pirates and other invaders over the centuries. According to myths, the splendor, the beauty of nature and the bright light made Platanias a favorite place for the gods of Olympus. The goddess Athena drank water only from one particular spring on the top of the hill when visiting Crete. One kilometer away from Platanias you find yourself in a wild refuge with rare flora and fauna, and aged plane trees growing among ivy and wild vines. The scenery gives the visitor a tropical feeling. In prehistoric times this place used to be a bay, which was used as a port. In this port in 1190 BC, when king Agamemnon came to Crete after ihe Trojan war, he built the ancient town of Pergamos. Platanias village Is built on the ruins of Pergamos. The ancient river Lardanos (today called Keritis) flowed into this very bay. The excavations that were carried out in 1974 brought to light the prehistoric city of ancient Kydonia. the mother of all cities, as Greek and Latin writers used to call it. Homer also mentions that the Kydonians used to bathe in the river Lardanos. This is a really blessed place. Visitors have the feeling of 4000 years of history and at the same time breathe the air of modern and cosmopolitan life.