Sitia is a town on the north-eastern coast of Crete with a population of 10,000 inhabitants. It is built amphitheatrically on the side of Boda hill at the north of the homonymous bay. It is a very picturesque and quiet town with a vivid flair. It has inherited a long historic and cultural tradition. There is a Minoan city in the wider Sitia area at Petra and a town of the Hellenistic period at Tripitos. The centre of Sitia today is built on the ruins of Sitia in the Byzantine and Venetian period. Sitia has played an important role in east Crete as an administrative body and cultural centre especially in the Venetian period and modern times. Today it is a developing town with great perspectives. Myson, one of the seven wise men came from the ancient Sitia (Iteia) as well as Vitzentzos Kornaros the poet of Erotokritos. The Sitian people were always distinguished for their love of and performance in literature and the arts.

Sitia is the capital of Sitia district and seat of the municipality of Sitia with public authorities, hospital, schools, university, port, airport, banks, production units and other authorities. Sitia is connected by a road network (National road and the south axis) with the rest of Crete, by air service with Athens and by ferry boat from Agios Nikolaos, Milo and Piraeus as well as from Kasos, Karpathos and Rhodes. The tourist development is mild with mostly small hotels, rooms to let, fish taverns, restaurants with traditional cuisine and many others. There is a stunning sandy beach and is ideal for a summer vacation as well as for holidays throughout the whole year because of the mild climate and the life there.

There is a cluster of four small islands, the Dionidades, 9 km away from Sitia that according to mythology were created by god Dionysos. There is the biggest colony of Eleanor's falcon over there. Moreover the long naturalist and cultural route of Sitia district begins and ends in Sitia. By following this route you can enjoy all the natural beauty and magnificent landscapes of the gorges, caves, forests, biotopes, mountains and beaches, the fauna and flora, as well as the rich cultural heritage of the archaeological sites, monuments, traditional settlements, rural buildings etc. You may also visit the wind parks and the other units of mild energy sources and the organic farming of this area which are two sectors very important for the environment. Sitia is a pioneer of these sectors in Europe.

One of the best district archaeological museums is situated in Sitia with many folklore exhibits, a show-room and selling-point of exceptional local products, and the Venetian castle of Kazarma. Furthermore there are many cultural authorities with wonderful activities. Kazarma today is a fabulous place for cultural events (theatre, concerts etc.) and is the centre of the town's cultural life in the summer when the "Kornaria" festival is organized, a series of theatrical, musical, other arts and literary events. Every year in August is also organized the "sultana feast", one of the biggest celebrations on Crete while many traditional feasts and parties take place in the scenic villages of the district throughout the whole summer.

Piskokefalo is a big and fertile village at the south axis 4 km away from Sitia. It belonged in feudal times to the Venetian family of Kornaros, the ancestors of the poet of "Erotokritos" Vitzentzos Kornaros. The house and the watermill of Kornaros have been restored and are going to become The Vitzentzos Kornaros Museum. The village church of Agios Georgios also belonged to the family and bears their emblem. At the north of the village near the Katrinia hill a rural temple was excavated with many finds including statuettes of pregnant women, pots, beads, models of people and animals, scarabs, earthen houses etc. On the road from Sitia to Piskokefalo a two-storey Minoan mansion was excavated and one can still see the ruins of the rooms, the staircases, protective blocks of stone from the river or the sea etc.

To the community of Piskokefalo also belong the settlements of Kato Piskopi, Sklavediakos, Berati, and the area of Trapezounta. Until 1971 Piskokefalo was the seat of the Turkish administration in the Sitia district. It is the birthplace of Captain Giannis Kontos and the Member of Parliament M. Kolyvakis.

A small village, 7 km away from Sitia on the way to Toplou - Vai on a green hillside near the sea. It is like a suburb of Sitia, with taverns and tourist lodgings, villas, rooms and apartments to rent; with a healthy climate, nice view and wide horizon over the Sitia bay. The archaeological sites are very interesting in this area. On the coast of the village there is a hollow cave where traces of ancient habitation have been found. While further on the Koufotos Hill, you can see the ruins of a big rectangular building of Pre-Minoan time with 37 rooms arranged around a courtyard and surrounded by a wall which was probably used as fortification. The particular historical significance of the building lies in its architectural form. It is a protogenic form, the forerunner of the Minoan Palaces in Crete.

In the east side of the building the biggest cemetery on Hellenic ground was excavated, dating to the Bronze Age. It belongs to the Pre-Minoan era. 252 tombs were excavated and another 50 were damaged. Numerous finds have been spotted there: 1800 pots of different types, stone and bronze items such as axes, hand-mills, hooks, daggers, spearheads etc. The tombs were primitive chamber-like or simple graves dug on soft rock. Today almost all of them are filled up with earth and decayed by the sun, winds and rain. At the edge of the village an old watermill still exists which has been registered as a preserved historical building.

One of the biggest and most important monasteries in Crete, 10 km. away in the east of Sitia. It is situated in the middle of an open low plateau at the edge of Kavo-Sideros Cape. It is 6 km away from Palekastro. The buildings are very imposing and look like a castle. Its official name is "Panagia Akrotiriani" (the Cape Madonna). Toplou means the one that possesses a cannon ("top" in Turkish) and the monastery was named because it had a cannon to drive away the pirates during Turkish domination. The monastery was probably built in the 16th century around the small temple of Virgin Mary from the 14th century as shown by its murals. Very soon the monastery gathered many assets and founded churches all over Crete while at the same time other monasteries declined and came under its power.

The monastery from time to time suffered great lootings and catastrophes by pirates, knights of Malt and especially from Turks because of its riches and the support it offered to national struggles. The Monastery was probably destroyed by invaders at the end of the 15th century and its restoration was associated with the Kornaros family (South wing) and Metzos family (North wing). The great number of significant icons from the 14th and 15th centuries show that the monastery-fortress flourished especially in that era. The icons signify the development of the art of Constantinople which was gradually settled in Crete after its fall. The great artistic value of the icons is also significant for the highly educated level of the monk community at the Akrotiriani monastery that contributed to the cultural development of Crete in the Renaissance.

An earthquake in 1612 caused great damage to the monastery. It was restored by the bishop Gabriel Pantogalos with the support of the Venetian senate, and at the same time the south aisle of Saint John was built. The main hall is of the arched type while the front and the imposing bell-tower are of the renaissance. The rooms are arranged around the inner court on three stores with bulwarks. The buildings are made up of obviously different features from Byzantine and Western architectural typology. In 1646 the monastery was looted by the Turks and in 1704 was taken under the protectorate of the ecumenical patriarch, which contributed to its survival. The bishop Parthenios Kafouros renovated the monastery and invited many great painters like Ioannis Kornaros and Stamatis who created a number of magnificent paintings.

Many monks were slaughtered during the liberation fights in 1821 and in 1940-44. At the courtyard there is an outstanding sculptured monument by Manolis Tzompanakis. In the last few years restoration works have been taking place and still continue. Furthermore two remarkable museums, one of icons and relics and one of engraving, were created. The monastery is a centre of organic olive oil and wine production and furthermore a wind park was established nearby. Many visitors come every year to the monastery which is one of the most important religious, historic and cultural monuments.

Vai is a palm tree forest stretching across a marvellous valley and sandy beach, next to the ancient Itanos, 28 km away from Sitia. It is 8 km away from Palekastro and 6 km from Toplos Monastery. It covers 200 acres and consists of self planted palm trees of Theofrastos (Phoenix Theofrasti). It is unique of its kind in Greece, Europe and probably the world. Apart from Vai, individual palm trees or clusters of them are to be found in other parts of Crete as well (Preveli, Agios Nikitas etc.), on the islands in the southeast of the Aegean Sea, in Cyprus and in Turkey. There are many legends about how it was created. It is said that it was created by the Phoenicians who it was believed were the first to settle Itanos,

while according to other versions it was created by the seeds of dates that Egyptian soldiers of Ptolemy VI (Pilometor) used to eat, or the soldiers of King Mithridates of Pontus who came as allies to that area, or Saracen pirates or invaders. Whatever may be the cause of the Vai forest's existence, one thing is for sure, it is maintained due to the dry, hot climate and the underground water of the valley. In addition, the palm tree existed in ancient Crete as mentioned in the works of Theofrastos and Pliny and the depiction of the palm tree on coins and pots. There are clusters of palm trees also on the beach of the neighbouring Itanos. Apart from palm trees, you can also find other species of African vegetation that contribute to the biodiversity of this area.

This location is also the crossroads for migrating birds. The landscape is one of the most beautiful ones: soft lines in the horizon, harmonious diversity of hills and plains, olive groves and vineyards on the hillsides, an exotic African flair and bright light. While the ancient sites at the Toplos Monastery give historic and cultural significance to the area. Vai because of its special value and beauty, is protected by the Greek state, European Union and international contracts.

Palaikastro is a developing small town at the east coast of Crete 20 km away from Sitia and the seat of the Municipality of Itanos. It was named after an old castle. Also in this district are the settlements Agathias, Vai, Mirtidia, Lidia, Chochlakies, the toplos Monastery, the area of Itanos, Agios Nikolaos, Agios Spiridonas, Vagias, Kalamaki and Analoukas. Excavation at Rousolakos on the Palekastro beach revealed a large and significant Minoan town. It prospered at the Post-Minoan period but also found were ruins from the first and the middle Minoan era especially graves perfectly maintained with numerous bones. After examination of the bones, anthropologists came up with considerable conclusions about the body structure of the Minoans, such as the men were 1.60 m. tall and the women 1.50 m.

A central road crossing with four other roads divides the town in 9 districts, in each of which, according to a belief, used to live equal genders. The fronts of the houses facing the central road are very imposing, while a complete sewage system runs through all districts. In district B amongst other finds was a department-mansion, with 4 rows of columns and a kitchen, a bathing tank, well, a house altar, bathroom and an olive-oil storeroom while at other spots were found an olive-press and olives storeroom. There were also found many amphoras, oil lamps, jars etc. Department-mansions and important items were also found in other districts while in district E a grape-press was found. In district X were important discoveries: at the north-west under the house foundations the renowned temple of Dictean Zeus was found. At this temple Zeus was worshiped from the Geometric period until the Roman conquest.

Very near to this place plates were also found with the hymn of the Dictean or Cretagenous Zeus. It is the first hymn in the ancient world dedicated to a god and in reality it is a hymn to peace and life. Young naked shield-bearers used to sing this hymn every year in the Spring, dancing around the Zeus altar imitating the Curetes, and they pleaded with him to come to earth in order to bring peace, happiness and justice among people, fertility to the ground, protection to the youth, fair winds to the ships etc. At this site were also found parts of the golden - ivory statuette, the so-called masterpiece of the Minoan culture, which is exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Sitia.

The excavations were conducted about 100 years ago by the English archaeologists Bosanquet and Dawkins and are still run by the English School of Archaeology. A recent investigation (using "radiophotography") of the subsoil gave serious evidence that under the ground of Rousolakos is hidden the fifth big Minoan palace from Crete! Life in the Minoan town of Palekastro as in Zakros and in other Cretan towns was suddenly eradicated because of the volcanic eruption on Santorini in about 1500 BC. At Kouremenos 7 sub-minoan houses were excavated, at Castri, houses of the Geometric and the Hellenistic period, while at the temple of Agios Antonios, Halbherr discovered a part of the treaty between Knossos and Ierapitnas. Palekastro with its fertile grounds, important antiquities and marvellous beaches is the liveliest and a greatly developing settlement in the Sitia district. In the town there is a folk museum and many cultural events also take place.

This is a small coastal settlement, very picturesque, 36 km away from Sitia with access from the National Road (via Sfaka and Skinoseli). In the last few years it has shown a stable tourist and urban development. With Mochlos the settlement on the small island at the other side formed an important Minoan harbour hub. Many significant Minoan antiquities were excavated there. At the west side of the island tombs and mansions of aristocratic families were discovered where artistic golden jewels, cameos, a golden ring with the depiction of a naked goddess on a ship, magnificent pots, a silver compass etc. were found. At the south park, a big Minoan settlement and at the north, fortress ruins of a Roman and Byzantine settlements were discovered.

At the settlement, which was inhabited in the Neolithic period, Roman fish-tanks, an ancient quarry, a series of tombs with pots etc. were found. Mochlos is the tourist resort among the villages of the area and attracts many foreign naturalists, as it is considered to be a place of exceptional beauty.

A fertile and historic village on the road from Sitia to Stavrochori, 9km away from Sitia. At Platiskinos there is a significant ornate tomb of the Post-Minoan era with a round chamber of 4 m height and diameter, as well as a door at the back so that the dead can "communicate with the world of the living", excavated in 1939 by Nikolaos Platon. Three sarcophaguses and various pots were found there. At Riza, a big and elaborate rural mansion of the Mid-Minoan era with 12 rooms, a "reception hall" and many finds that indicate a rich owner, was excavated by the same archaeologist in 1959. In the green valley near Achladia, is the deserted settlement of "Kimourgiotis" with traditional buildings and the ancient spring of "Lapsanari". Old small mansions have been maintained in the village.

In the area of Achladia, lime is produced by the traditional method of lime-kilns, many of which are maintained here. In Achladia, at the place "Plativola", one of the largest wind parks in Europe has recently been built, with 60 wind-generators, and is visited by many tourists every year. The people of Achladia greatly contributed to the freedom struggle against the Turks and Achladia was the seat of the Revolution Committee of Therissos (1905).

Sfaka is a big settlement on the National Road, 30 km away from Sitia. It was named after the homonymous plant that grew near the spring. A Minoan tomb was found with an urn at Keratidi. There is an inscription of Michael Siligna dating from 2 March 1643 at the old church of the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada). An Ottoman spring exists in the west of the village. In Sfaka is the beginning of an asphalt road leading to the tourist resort Mochlos and a carriage road leading to the small Monokaras Plateau.

A coastal area with a settlement 8 km away from Pano Zakros at a magnificent bay with sandy beach. Here, in 1961 the renowned archaeologist Nikolaos Platon traced and excavated the fourth Minoan Palace on Crete. The first to trace evidence of ancient ruins was Spratt. After him the archaeologists Halbherr and Mariani, Evans and Hogarth searched the area. Golden jewels found by a peasant and handed in by Em. Figetakis and N. Karantonis gave evidence of the existence of ancient sites. The first excavations of N. Platon were financed by the American art-lovers Leon and Harriet Pomerance. The overall size of the central building was bigger than 10 acres and there were about 250 chambers for different use.

The palace was not looted when found so although smaller than the ones in Knossos, Festos and Mallia, the finds there were more in number (over a 1000) and more significant, thus giving us valuable information about the life and civilization of the Minoans. Many of them are "royal", real pieces of art. The palace was mostly developed due to its geographic position. It was the big port of call for the Minoan ships coming from and heading to Egypt and the East. This was evidenced by the many finds and raw materials coming from these areas. The handicraft and arts were particularly developed in the Palace of Zakros and were very profitable. The palace finds are exhibited in the Museums of Heraklion, Sitia and Agios Nikolaos. The palace was destroyed by the volcanic eruption in about 1500 B.C.

It is an extraordinary experience to visit the palace. The Greek Fund of the Archaeological Resources and Expropriations (TAPA) has published a brief guide where you can find basic information. Moreover interesting excavations have taken place in the palace annexes. The old palace was located there, a metal furnace was found and other buildings were revealed with numerous finds, plates of the linear A and B etc. Tombs in caves were excavated in the gorge of Zakros (so-called the Gorge of the Dead) and on the hill of Agios Antonios. The porous stone quarry with which the palace at Pelekita was built was found there, as well as a cave with traces of Neolithic habitation. Kato Zakros is an archaeological paradise in a pure natural landscape of exceptional beauty.

Xerokampos is a small sea resort between Zakros and Goudoura 49 km away from Sitia via Ziros. At Farmakokefalo, Nikos Papadakis excavated a small but significant settlement of the Hellenistic period which may be Ancient Ampelos. Sophisticated artistic items were found, pots, statuettes, coins, stone tools and many finds made of copper, lead and steel - a possible area of smelting. On the small islands of Kavalli near Xerokampos traces of ancient habitation were found. On these rocky islands there are nests of many pairs of Eleanor's falcon. The area is a crossroad of migrating birds. Xerokampos used to be infertile and dry but after water drillings the area was covered by olive groves. It attracts many tourists due to the African, exotic colour, the beautiful sandy beaches, and the clear sea.