The beauty of the village can be attributed to its wonderful stone houses and to the many flowers that blossom in every yard. Its people are friendly and hospitable.
The tradition is alive in Kaliviani, since even today the houses are built the traditional way, with stones, by skillful technicians.

The village was the birthplace for the important Cretan revolutioner, Emmanuel Diktakis, who in 1840 organized the revolution against the Turks in Apokorona, where he was slaughtered by the Turks.