The prefecture of Lasithi occupies the easternmost part of Crete and has an area of 1.818 square kilometers. Lasithi is known for its spectacular coastline and for its beautiful sandy beaches. The capital of the prefecture is the picturesque town of Agios Nikolaos.
The prefecture is well-known for its excellent archaeological sites, as well as the one-of-a-kind in Europe Palm Tree Forest on Vai Beach. Thanks to the warm climate of the southern provinces of the prefecture, there is a considerable production of early vegetables and bananas. The Lasithi plateau is considered one of the most fertile parts of Crete.
Lasithi, not without reason called the” Sunny site of Crete», has the highest amount of sunshine hours.
The first town we meet in the prefecture of Lasithi is the coastal village SISSI and is located 40 km from Heraklion and 25 km from Agios Nikolaos. It is a picturesque village with a charming port and beautiful surroundings where nature lovers can follow many biking or trekking paths. Here, you can find hotels and rooms to let of all categories. It also has a camping site for all those who prefer a different manner of holidays.
On the east side of the village are the sandy beaches of Boufos and of Avlaki.
NEAPOLIS
East of Heraklion, just beyond Malia, is the town of NEAPOLIS, in the heart of a fertile plain. Interesting sights in this area are the Byzantine church of Agia Ekaterini, the Panagia Kera Goniotisa and the monastery of Agios Georgios Vrahatsiotis.
Here there is an archaeological collection and a Folklore Museum. Sights worth seeing in this area include the chapel of Agios Georgios Selinari and the cave of Milatos, which has a height of 155 meters with many stalactites and stalagmites. Inside the cave there is a small church dedicated to Saint Thomas.
A short distance away is the fine MILATOS beach and about 13 kilometers south-east of Neapolis lies AGIOS NIKOLAOS, the capital of the prefecture of Lasithi.
AGIOS NIKOLAOS
AGIOS NIKOLAOS is a modern town built on the north-west end of the bay of Mirabellos. It is the administrative, cultural and public transport center of the prefecture and attracts many tourists, on account of the wealth of sights in the region and the availability of high quality accommodation.
The trade-mark of the town is the Voulismeni lagoon at its center, which is connected to the sea by a canal. The two parts of the town are linked by a bridge. This is a very picturesque section of the town, with many outdoor cafes and restaurants along the sea-front.
There is an Archaeological Museum (tel. 28410 24943) and a Folklore Museum (tel. 28410 25903), which have many important items on display.
The town also has the Koundoureios Municipal Library, with a collection of 10,000 volumes.
The more famous beaches near Agios Nikolaos are: Chavania a nice sandy beach a few kilometers north of the town, Ammoudi a sandy beach, Kitroplateia beach which is very close to the center of the town. Almiros beach is the best in Agios Nikolaos. It is a long sandy beach in a protected bay.
To the south of the town, at Istros, is the beautiful Bay of Voulisma with its blue-green waters and yellow sandy beach.
PLAIN OF LASITHI
To the west of Agios Nikolaos, near the boundary between the prefectures of Heraklion and Lasithi, is the Plain of Lasithi, a plateau with 24 picturesque windmills that are systematically used to irrigate the fertile plain, which covers about 6.250 acres (25.000 stremma). The plain is encircled by the villages of Lagou, Pikiano, Kato Metochi, Agios Charalambos, Platy and Psychro.
From there a road leads to the tourist pavilion and car-park, 1 kilometer away. A walk of about 1 kilometer along, a footpath brings us to the Diktaean Cave, at a height of 1.025 meters. Archaeological finds have shown that this was a cult area from the Middle Minoan to the Ancient periods. It consists of a large chamber divided into four smaller areas all of them with stalactites and stalagmites, and with a small pool in the south part.
The tour around the plateau continues with the villages of Magoulas, Kaminaki, Agios Georgios – near which is the Kroustallenia monastery, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin and built on an imposing, verdant hill – and Tzermiado, the largest village, which is 75 kilometers from Heraklion.
To the east of it is the cave of Trapeza or Kronion, in which Sir Arthur Evans discovered some important archaeological finds.
ELOUNDA
The coast to the north of Agios Nikolaos is one of the busiest and most tourist-developed areas of Crete, with the major holiday resorts of SCHISMA, ELOUNDA and PLAKA.
The northern beach in Plaka is a pebbly beach with tamarisk trees and a great view of Spinalonga island. The beach north of the port of Elounda has fine sand. Elounda is one of Crete’s most frequented holiday destinations with luxurious hotel units, apartments to let, restaurants and a few bars and cafes.
SPINALONGA
Opposite this coast is the rocky islet of SPINALONGA where the Venetians built a very strong fortress in 1579, the remains of which are still preserved. It was one of the most important forts in Crete and it and the forts at Gramvoussa and Souda were the only three on the island not to fall into the hands of the Turks in 1669. They remained under Venetian sovereignty for a further half century, and only passed to the Turks in 1715, after a negotiated surrender.
It was consequently also known as the “Isle of Tears”. The leper colony lasted until 1957 and today this islet attracts thousands of visitors who are attracted by its unique history and architecture. There are many organized trips to the island of Spinalonga but one could also charter a little boat from nearby Plaka, Elounda or Agios Nikolaos to visit this impressive island.
An entire Minoan settlement has been uncovered 18 kilometers south-east of Agios Nikolaos, at the archaeological site of Gournia. To the east is the sea-side village of Pachia Ammos, which has a superb beach and clear sea. This is the narrowest point of Crete, which is only 14 kilometers wide here.
After passing through a number of villages, the road connecting Agios Nikolaos with Sitia comes to the settlement of Chamezi. A short distance away was found the Minoan house of Chamezi, a prehistoric circular house built for defense, or, on another view, a peak sanctuary.
SITIA
SITIA, 69 kilometers east of Agios Nikolaos, is a picturesque harbor spreading around the west side of the bay of Sitia, on the site of the ancient Eteia. This beautiful and lively town is the birthplace of the famous Cretan poet Vincenzo Kornaros who wrote Erotokritos.
In the east part of the town is the Venetian fort, of which very little still survives.
The Archaeological Museum of Sitia (tel. 28430 23917) contains some important archaeological finds from the area, and the Folklore Museum also has a rich collection of textiles, local costumes and domestic utensils.
There is much interest to the east of the town: Agia Fotia-an entire Early Minoan cemetery with many chamber tombs and rock-cut graves-, the historic fortress-monastery of Toplou (or Panagia Akrotiriani), one of the most important and wealthiest monasteries in Crete, with well-preserved 14th wall-paintings.
In Sitia you will find hotels and apartments for rent, restaurants and taverns which are mainly lining the sea front, various shops, travel and car – moto rental agencies, coffee shops, and a few bars and clubs.
VAI – PALM TREES FOREST
VAI is 7 kilometers to the north-east, with the famous grove of 5.000 palm trees a short distance to the east. It is one of the main tourist attractions of Crete. Today the whole area and all routes of access to the beach are carefully fenced off and camping is strictly forbidden. The crystal clear sea, superb golden beach and especially the perennial palm trees surrounding it make this beach unique in Greece and give it a distinctive charm that attracts thousands of tourists. The beach of Vai is an organized sandy beach with water sports available.
About 1,5 km. further north is the site of ancient ITANOS, which was inhabited from the Minoan times to the 15th c. AD. The archaeological site is right along the beach.
There are other important archaeological sites in this area, near the east coast of Crete: Palaikastro, Rousolakkos and Petsofas, which have yielded important Mycenaean and Minoan finds.
Further south, 8 kilometers from the village of Zakros, is Kato Zakros, at the head of a small bay with a superb pebbly beach and fine sea. Here have been excavated the remains of ancient Zakros, which comprises: the fourth largest Minoan palace, Late Minoan houses, two building complexes and some fine objects from the Mycenaean period.
In the heart of east Crete lies ancient Praisos, the city of the Eteocretans, where excavations have brought to light some important finds.
The south coast of the Lasithi prefecture has a large number of sea-side settlements with fine beaches and clear sea:
MAKRYGIALOS is a lovely village which has a good tourist infrastructure. Makrygialos beach is the main sandy beach in the village. The shallow waters makes it suitable for families with children.
In the south of Makrygialos is the spectacular island of Koufonisi.
A boat leaves daily from the harbor of Makrygialos for Koufonisi. On the island many antiquities have been found of which the amphitheater, that could seat a thousand people, is one of the most astounding.
ANALIPSIS, KOUTSOURAS, MAVROS KOLYMBOS, GALINI, AGIA FOTIA and FERMA.
Mavros Kolymbos is a shingle and pebbles beach. Agia Fotia is a nice sandy beach in a picturesque valley. Ferma is a small sandy beach inside the beautiful bay of the same name.
A short distance inland lies KOUTSOUNARI, where there is accommodation built in the local traditional architectural style. The long sandy beach in Koutsounari starts from the Koutsounari Camping and stretches for several km towards the east.
IERAPETRA
Further west along this same coast lies IERAPETRA, a lively, modern town and an important commercial and tourist center, with a few remains of the past. It is built on the site of ancient Ierapytna, and there are the remains of a Venetian fort (Kales) in the harbor. There are some interesting old churches in the town and an Archaeological Collection (tel. 28420 28721) with some important finds dating from between Early Minoan and Roman times. The town also has a number of interesting churches dating from more modern times. In the center of the town there is a long sandy beach.
Ierapetra hotels are fully-equipped and comfortable, close to nightlife venues, catering to all types of tourists. The promenade along the sea front is a lively place with many cafés, restaurants and bars.
8,5 nautical miles south of Ierapetra lies the island Chryssi or Gaidouronissi. Its golden sandy beach, the yellow-green cedar trees and many traces of the Minoan civilization, attract many visitors.
Proceeding west-wards along the same coast, we come to some more traditional settlements of the Libyan sea: Potami, Gra-Lygia, Stomio, Nea Anatoli, Ammoudares, Neos Myrtos and Myrtos. All over this region can be seen hot-houses producing an abundance of early garden products and fruits.
The village of Myrtos is a beautiful coastal village at the western part of the county of Ierapetra. In the village there is a Folklore Museum that houses Minoan pottery, agricultural tools and precious relics.
NEARBY ISLANDS
Off the southern coast of the Lasithi prefecture are the small islands of Koufonissi and Chryssi, which are celebrated for their fine sand and shimmering azure waters. Spinalonga island lies opposite Elounda.
TRADITION – EVENTS
Many traditional events are held in Lasithi, offering to the visitors a chance to experience local customs and celebrations.
In Agios Nikolaos, during Easter, there is the celebration of the Resurrection and the «Burning of Judas» in Agios Nikolaos Port.
Other celebrations on the capital include the «Lato» cultural events during the summer and the festival of Agios Nikolaos Church on December 6.
In Elounda, the summer cultural events and «fish night» take place in July. Dance nights take place on the Lassithi Mountain Range in the summertime.
Gournia Village holds a celebration in honor of the Virgin Mary on August 15 in the Monastery of Faneromeni.
In July and August you can see the cultural events of «Kornareia» at the Sitia Port and the Kazarma Fortress, while the «Soultanina» Celebration is a five-day event that also takes place in Sitia.
CRETAN CUISINE
Crete is well-known for its cuisine. You can taste some of the most popular dishes at Lasithi restaurants and taverns, such as potatoes oftes, chochlious, dakos, staka cheese. For a dessert you may try kalitsounia sweets. Don’t forget to taste a small glass of raki, the traditional alcoholic drink of Crete.
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