Any place in Crete is sure to fascinate visitors. The island is reputed for its amazing mosaic of landscapes – each one, however, retaining its own character, its own identity and beauty. The eastern part of Lassithi is considered to be the low-key aspect of Crete, one of peace, quiet, things being done in a relaxed way, hospitality.
It is the corner of Crete with the even-tempered mountains, the “smiling shores”, the fine beaches and the countless Blue Flag beaches. Not to mention the dunes in its south coastline and on its small islands in the Libyan sea, and the hot and life-giving sun shining for almost three thousand hours a year − the highest annual sunlight average in Europe!
Lassithi is the Crete of large and renowned ancient cities, Minoan palaces and ports , medieval monuments, traditional villages, unique landscapes, immense olive groves, verdant vineyards, gardens, orchards. It is a place having to offer enchanting cultural and nature-loving treks to canyons, caves, forests, agricultural landscapes, ancient paths, habitats, monuments, castles, monasteries, countryside churches, villages. A place with a long tradition in tourism, high-quality services, excellent resorts renowned the world over, hotels having received numerous distinctions internationally, and all sorts of outstanding tourist accommodation, built at unique locations.
A decentred and, at the same time, “multi-centred” structure is one of the most characteristic features of Lassithi. There are four towns in the area – beautiful, functional, and full of life and movement. Agios Nikolaos is built on five small hills and known for its picturesque lake, indented coastline and cosmopolitan colour. Ierapetra, with its Kale fortress, its immense sandy beach, its spaciousness and its never-ending summer, claims the title of the “nymph of the Libyan sea”. Sitia, with an amphitheatric layout, the Kazarma fortress, the picturesque old town, a vivid island colour and a strong sense of the sea, is the town of high spirits and fun. And Neapoli, with its fine and functional square, long historical tradition, old mansions and peaceful environment, is the town of intellect and literature.
The greatest advantage of Lassithi is that, no matter which part of it one may be at, one can, in a very short while, find oneself in a town or beach! Thus, all the visitors of the area, even those who are staying at mountain villages, can very easily have access to services, town living and the area’s sublime beaches. But the reverse is also the case: those who live in the towns have, very close to them, beautiful and cool villages with traditional taverns and coffee shops, picturesque back streets and squares, old churches and houses, and of course these follow the old paces of life, those of calmness and slowness, of a philosophical disposition and of the traditional hospitality. Such are the seaside villages of Sissi, Milatos, Elounda, Plaka, Kalo Chorio, Mochlos, Palekastro, Zakros, Kserokambos at Ziros, Goudouras, Makris Gialos, Koutsouras, Achlia, Agia Fotia, Ferma, Koutsounari and Myrtos at Ierapetra. In the inland, such is the Lassithi Plateau with Tzermiado and Agios Georgios, Kritsa near Agios Nikolaos, the Chandra – Ziros Plateau, the unadulterated villages of the Sitia province, etc.
Source: www.incrediblecrete.gr
The new aspect of tourism, Sitia Geopark
When the Sitia region became a member of the UNESCO Geopark family, we had no idea just how much positive change this would bring! This new aspect of tourism “Sitia Geopark”, is proving to be a considerable point of interest, especially in the alternative tourism market. The natural environment is no longer an obstacle for tourism development, on the contrary it is a great attraction for visitors. We... read more
Elouda beach
The nice sandy beach northern to the small port of Elounda is situated at a distance of 11 kilometers far from Aghios Nicolaos at the North, and 70 -77 kilometers eastern to the International Airport of Heraklion, via the New or the Old National road respectively. Protected by the Spinalonga peninsula, the beach is not affected by the winds. Fully organised, the beach offers a wide range of accommodation,... read more
Voulisma beach
Voulisma is the second of the three bays in the beautiful village Istron, about 12km east of Agios Nikolaos and 22km north of Ierapetra. The Voulisma Beach or Golden Sands is located approximately 500m from the village (east). Its length is about 700m and is the largest municipal beach of Kalo Chorio.Voulisma is a very well-organized beach, with rare beauty for a beach located in the Northern part... read more
The Dikti Range
THIS RANGE LIES BETWEEN HERAKLION AND LASSITHI. Its highest summit is Spathi (2.148 m) and there are two more peaks at an altitude of more than 2000m. Lassithi Plateau, the largest in Crete, lies at the heart of the range at an altitude of 850 m. It is surrounded by a series of smaller plateaus such as Katharo, Limnakaro, Mari, Lapathos, Omalos, Erganos and Nisimos. There is a mountain shelter at Limnakaro... read more
Lassithi
Any place in Crete is sure to fascinate visitors. The island is reputed for its amazing mosaic of landscapes – each one, however, retaining its own character, its own identity and beauty. The eastern part of Lassithi is considered to be the low-key aspect of Crete, one of peace, quiet, things being done in a relaxed way, hospitality. It is the corner of Crete with the even-tempered mountains,... read more
Cave of Pelekita or Cave of the Fig Tree
It lies to the North-Northeast of Kato Zakros. We arrive at the cave either after a one-hour walk from Kato Zakros or from the beach of the same settlement by engine-vessel (20-25 minutes) and after that, we follow a tiresome ascending route (15 minutes walk). The elevation at the entrance attains 105 metres. Stones consist of limestones from the upper Cretaceous and of dolomites from the Triassic... read more
