The area of Stalida is located 30 kilometers east of the city of Heraklion between the areas of Hersonissos and Malia. It is a well-known tourist resort in Crete, with shallow waters, which can be enjoyed by families with children. On the coastal road of the area, in the middle of the road, is the Byzantine church of Agios Ioannis, which dates from 1600 AD, when in this area there was absolutely nothing. From Stalis begins a path that ends in the picturesque mountain village of Mochos, through an inaccessible valley. This path is called “Bulgarian path” because according to local tradition it was built by Bulgarian prisoners of war during the First World War.
The area of Stalis, belongs to the Municipality of Hersonissos and has about 1200 permanent residents, according to the 2011 census. Due to the tourist development of the area, Stalis has a variety of hotel units, various categories, as well as many rooms for rent.
General issues:
- To help us increase the quality of the services provided, please fill in the corresponding questionnaire located on our website costanostrum.org
- Ashtrays, sunbeds, chairs and umbrellas are the property of the beach’s management.
Health and Safety, Environmental Protection and Beach Cleanliness
- You must always follow the instructions of lifeguards.
- Keep the beach and the sea clean.
- The use of shampoo in showers is prohibited.
- The Beach Manager has the right to remove people from the beach who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or behave violently / inappropriately to other visitors
Emergencies:
- In case of disappearance of a person, contact the person in charge of the beach immediately.
- In case the beach is closed, follow the instructions of the person in charge and the lifeguards.
- In case of accident, immediately inform the lifeguard and the person in charge of the beach.
- In case the customer falls ill for any reason, he is called to immediately notify the lifeguard and the Beach Manager, in order to take the necessary measures.
Its name probably comes from the ancient Greek and from the word stalos, which means the place for lunch rest. This view is reinforced by the large number of wells and locusts that the area had, which ideally serve this purpose.
Marine Flora and Fauna
The beaches of Stalida are mainly sandy with scattered coastal reefs in a short distance from the coastline. The reefs compose a unique three-dimensional seascape which in turn hosts a large number of marine species.
In detail, the beach in the area of interest has a north orientation and is exposed to the NW winds that prevail mainly during the summer months. The area is characterized by small depths since at a distance of 50m from the coastline the depth does not exceed 1.5m. The coastal reef is home to a large number of marine species. On them grow mainly algae of the genus Dyctiota, Jania, Padina and Cystoseira. The presence of red algae, especially the genera Ellisolandia and Laurencia, is also important. These species create a rich algae decoration, of special beauty. The discreet presence of scattered patches of the protected species Posidonia (Posidonia oceanica) should also be noted. In this ecosystem there is a strong presence of coastal fish species as well as benthic species. White seabream, Dreamfish and the common two-banded sea bream appear in this area while small reef fish such as Blenny and Gobis are also present. Regarding the benthic species in this area sponges, bryozoan, sea urchins and sea cucumbers were identified.
Terrestrial Flora
The terrestrial biodiversity of the area is particularly limited as tourism development has altered the natural landscape. On the west side of the beach develop Tamarisk trees, coastal Crithmum and Matthiola. Succulents also grow in various parts of the beach.
