Sellia history

Sellia is a picturesque village in a wonderful location, on the south slope of Xylis peak (829m high) overlooking the Libyan Sea. The village was named Sellia because it is built on two natural mountain necks. Kotsifou Gorge is the entrance to Sellia

The village first appeared 800 years ago when the cantonments of Cantonia were united to protect them from raids. The village was never conquered by the Turks. In 1866, Resit Pasha attempted to burn it by coming from Sfakia with 10,000 soldiers. However, it was defeated by the locals at Harupidia and Resit himself was fatally injured.

In 1896 another battle took place at Kampos where several Turkish prisoners were captured and torn down by the Arkalis slope. The fact that the village never succumbed to the Turks is due to the organization of a voluntary group of fighters led by Savvopoulos who also had her own flag. 

In Sellia there are many churches around 15 that all go back to the Byzantine period