Platanias is a village about 10 kms west from Chania , following the road towards Kissamos.
It is situated by the mouth of the homonymous river Platanias (iordanos river, Homer) . At the river’s shore there are many plane trees “platania” which explains the name of the village.
In the Venetian inventories PLATANIAS is mentioned as Platanea and Pirgo Platanea, there were possibly two different settlements. Originally the village was built amphitheatrically on a high, rocky place with picturesque houses. Now it has spread to the sea-side. Opposite of Platanias is the island of St. Theodori or Thodorou. The Turks mention it as Tourlou – Andasi, and the Venetians as San Theodoro or San Torado. In 1574, during the Venetian dominion, it was decided to fortify it, in order to prevent the Turks from landing in Platanias. So they build a multi-angled fortress on the highest point of the island called it Turluru, and another multi-angled fortress at a lower level, which they called San Theodoro or San Francesco. There we find a three-aisled chapel of the St. Theodori, but only its foundations remain today. At the present time, the island serves as a rearing place for the Cretan mountain goat, kri-kri. The wonderful beaches and the considerable touristic development, with numerous facilities for the visitors, make Platanias the most important tourist center of western Crete.-