Achlada Village

The settlement, of Agia Pelagia belongs to the administration of the Community of Achlacla, the picturesque village above the southern part of the bay, climbed on the north slope ol Mount'' Vasilikon, in 300 m. altitude. Its resident who are now over 550 people, are mainly occupied with agriculture and tourism. The name of the village has its origin in Hie tree agriachladia (wild pear tree) which grows naturaly around the area where the village was first built.Achlada Is known to us since Medieval times and witnessed by various sources between 1577 -1583 with its 63 residents for that time, inning the years of Venetian Dominance in Crete, Achlada was a feud of the brothers Giorgio and Francisco Modinos, with 35 homes of the villagers and two churches. In the north eastern side of the village are the ruins of another settlement belonged to Modinos brothers, of Kadanou; Its residents moved to Achlada after the attack and plunder by Turks during the war of 1645 - 1669.