Vamos is a village destination at the foothills of Lefka Ori, the White Mountains, a mountain range in western Crete. The village is 25 km from the lovely city of Chania. Vamos sits at a semi-mountainous altitude of 300 metres and is surrounded by farmland and wild nature buzzing with life.

The history of Vamos stretches back to the 8th century, its first inhabitants being Arab pirates. A Venetian census from 1573 notes that the village, documented as Vamou, had 271 residents.

During the period of Ottoman rule, Vamos served as the headquarters of the Ottoman armed forces, while, in 1863, a pasha named Savvas selected Vamos as the administrative headquarters for the Sfakia area. The people of Vamos proved very patriotic in the revolt against Ottoman rule. A successful battle in 1896 secured liberty for the Cretans.

Vamos flourished while it served as the administrative base for the Sfakia area. Mansions of a neoclassical style were built during this period, while the distinction between rich and poor became very evident.

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feature image credit: Amalia Kovaiou

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