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Vathi, Kissamos History, memories and people
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Event Every spring

Lafonisios Dromos

The historic running race to Chrysoskalitissa, held every year in memory of the victims of the Lafonisi massacre of 1824.

Every spring, runners from all over Crete and Greece race along the roads of our area to the courtyard of Chrysoskalitissa Monastery. The Lafonisios Dromos is no ordinary race: it is held in honour of those massacred on Lafonisi in 1824.

The Lafonisi massacre

It was Easter 1824, during the War of Independence. Women, children and the elderly from the surrounding villages had taken refuge on Lafonisi (Elafonisi), together with 40 fighters, waiting for a ship to take them to the Ionian Islands, then under British protection.

The Ottomans reached the opposite shore and managed to cross the shallow water to the island. Accounts differ on how they found the crossing. A battle and a massacre followed: very few escaped, and many women and children were sold in the slave markets of Egypt. Estimates of the victims run into the hundreds.

Today a stone monument with a marble plaque stands on Lafonisi. It reads:

IN MEMORY OF THE BATTLE OF LAFONISI 1824 — THE HEROIC DEATH OF 40 FIGHTERS — THE SACRIFICE OF 600 WOMEN AND CHILDREN

The history of the race

The race was first held in 1960, organised by the Association of the Nine Villages (Enniachoriani) of Attica, on a route from Perivolia in Innachori to Lafonisi. Since 2015 it has been held again every year.

Today it is organised by the association of our community, Mousagores, together with the Chania Regional Unit, the Municipality of Kissamos and “Inachories Diadromes”.

The routes

  • Half marathon, 21.1 km: Xotikospilio – Kampos – Keramoti – Livadia – Stomio – Chrysoskalitissa. The organisers call it “the most demanding half marathon in Greece”.
  • Popular race, 7.8 km: Livadia – Chrysoskalitissa, for running or brisk walking.
  • Children’s race, 1.1 km: a short loop around Chrysoskalitissa.

All routes finish in the courtyard of Chrysoskalitissa Monastery.

The next race

According to the race website, the next Lafonisios Dromos will be held on Sunday 25 April 2027. Registration opens in early March.

Have you run the Lafonisios Dromos, or do you remember the early races of the 1960s? Do you have photographs? Write to me.