Sitia, the other face of Crete

SITIA, THE OTHER FACE OF CRETE

A trip to Sitia, the southeastern edge of Europe, is an unprecedented experience, so full of feelings and emotions that it seems like a sweet game of love in which all the elements of nature and life play a part.

Nature, light and people become living legends. For this is the edge, the limit, a distant land. This is the gateway of the ancient Minoan world to the East, it was here that Zeus the bull carried the beautiful Europa on his back from the coast of Asia. This is the ancient crossroads of the sea routes and civilisations of three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. Here was sung the first hymn to Peace in the whole of the ancient world, here in the land of the Eteocretans. Here everything has left a bright mark, giving things a mythical dimension.

Here, too, the warm, dry, temperate climate, the life-giving sun and the cool breezes all sharpen your senses and refresh you.

ANTIQUITIES & MUSEUMS

Few other places can boast such a wealth of archaeological sites and monuments as Sitia province.

The Minoan Palace of Zakros and the Minoan town of Palaikastro, the Minoan harbour-centres of Mochlos and Pseira, Doric-Hellenistic Itanos and Doric-Eteocretan Praisos, the Kazarma Fortress in Sitia, the Venetian villa and village of Etia and the medieval village of Voila, the “Great Monastery” of Toplou and a multitude of pretty Byzntine churches. There are also important museums such as the Sitia Archaeological Museum, the Folk Museums of Sitia, Chamezi, Palaikastro and Praisos, the Toplou Monastery Museum, the Zakros Museum of Water and the Zakros Natural History Museum.

BEACHES

Sitia Province has many stunningly beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters and sandy strands under the fiery sun. Some are secluded, ideal for quiet, solitary moments of peace, while others are busy, for those who like watersports and being in the centre of things.

The best beaches are those of Vai, Kouremenos, Erimoupoli, Chiona, Kato Zakros, Sitia, Makrygialos, Xerokambos and the islands of Leuce (Koufonisi) and Mochlos.

ISLANDS

Several uninhabited islets with secluded beaches are scattered off the coast of Sitia Province, providing ideal places to swim and fish in crystal-clear waters.

These are Koufonisi (with daily boat trips in the summer from Makrygialos), the Dionysades, Pseira, Agios Nikolaos (Mochlos) and Elassa.

NATURE TRAILS

Wonderful nature trails such as the E4 European path crisscross Sitia Province with its astonishingly beautiful and accessible gorges, including Rihtis with its unique waterfall, Zakros, Kapsas, Pefka, Orini and Chochlakies.

SITIA NATURE PARK - INTERNATIONAL UNESCO GEOPARK

The history of this land has run in parallel to that of its people for thousands of years.

If human time usually leaves gaps and unexplored areas, the time of the land of Sitia has traced its mark in every detail, on the rocks, in the clefts, in the caves and in the unique gorges.

Here in East Crete, the paths of land and people intertwine and complement each other. The marks of human activity are revealed in the rich archaeological discoveries and in the present-day life, as yet unadulterated, of the inhabitants. The land is revealed at each of the hundreds of sites of geological interest in the area.

The “geosites”, forming a parallel route of manmade and natural landmarks, invite discovery by visitors to the Sitia Nature Park.

TRADITIONAL CUISINE

It is no exaggeration to say that Sitian cooking is the most representative example of traditional Cretan cooking, considered one of the healthiest in the world. The richness and variety of the produce of the blessed Sitian soil, with olive oil first and foremost, has created down the ages a cuisine of unique flavour, freshness and imagination, which visitors can enjoy at the local tavernas and raki bars.

HOW TO VISIT THE AREA

By air: Sitia has a modern airport with flights to Athens, the islands of Kasos, Karpathos and Rhodes, Alexandroupoli in Thrace, and Preveza in Epirus, while there are also international charter flights during the tourist season.

By sea: The harbour links the town to Piraeus and the islands of Kasos, Karpathos and Rhodes, and is also a cruise ship destination.

By road: There are two main roads to the area, the north and the south road axis. The north road axis connects Sitia to Heraklion and the rest of northern Crete. The south road axis connects Sitia to Ierapetra and southern Crete.

Source / ByBusMagazine