Sitia

Sitia is the easternmost city on Crete near the Cape Sidero. It is a city with about 10,000 residents, built on the west side of the bay of Sitia, on a warm and dry area. It is a very well organized city with many shops, tourist facilities, hospitals, banks, etc. The residents work mainly with agriculture and tourism.In Sitia, apart from swimming in the long beach east of the city, you can stroll in the harbor, enjoy your coffee in the many cafes in the beach road, get lost in the old town with the traditional houses and the picturesque yards, visit the castle Kazarma and the ruins of a Venetian monastery. Moreover, you could visit the Archaeological Museum with exhibits from 3500BC to 500AC, all coming from the wider area of Sitia. A folklore museum exhibition also operates in the town with traditional objects of 19th and 20th century. Lastly, it is worth visiting the local produce stand, where you can learn about the products of Sitia. Among them are olive oil, Cretan wine and raki. Indeed, the oil of Sitia is the best in the world, winning several international awards every year.The city is considered to be built at the site of the ancient Itia or Sitea, which was the home of Myson. Myson has been reported as one of the seven sages of antiquity, replacing Periander.During the Byzantine period, the town flourished as a commercial port. The medieval city was a castle, i.e. was protected by a large wall and the fortress Kazarma, located today on a hill near the port.When the Venetians conquered the island, they gave great importance to the area and tried to fortify it. Sitia then faced a big boom in all sectors and became the largest city in eastern Crete. One of the greatest representatives of Greek Literature was born then, Vitsentzos Kornaros (1553-1613), with his famous love poem “Erotokritos” and the dramatic poem “The Sacrifice of Abraham”.

 Vai Palm Forest

One of the popular attractions of Crete is Vai  and is amongst the most beautiful locations in the Mediterranean. Located 94 km northeast of Agios Nikolaos and 24km east of Sitia. According to tradition, all those palm trees sprouted as Arab pirates threw stones from the dates they were eating the desert landscape of eastern Crete. Today it is considered one of the most beautiful areas on Crete and the beach carrying the Blue Flag of the European Union. The visit to Vai must if you are in Crete, especially in the east. It is a beach that will remind you of tropical palm beach and the small island in the middle of the bay.

Monastery Toplou

Toplou Monastery is located about 6 km north of Palekastro in the northeast of Crete. It is one of the most important monasteries and certainly the richest. It has built in an isolated area and looks like a castle.The present form is from the 17th century and the paintings on the walls testify that existed from the 14th century. It has a square shape, like a fortress, and three floors. Certainly one of the most impressive monasteries and still owned several and large areas of the region. The monastery is celebrated on September 26th which is celebrated by many faithful and pilgrims. Cultivate organic vines and olives and produces raki wine and olive oil are standardized and available to local and international markets. Besides the white and Thrapsathiri Vilana and red Merlot - Syrah already become a reference point, it is very interesting and sweet red wine from raisined grapes Liatiko variety.

Monastery Kapsa

Between Makrigialos and Goudouras, perched on the rocks next to the entrance of the gorge of Pervolakia, the Monastery of Agiou Ioanni Kapsa gazes from the mid-15th century the Libyan Sea and Koufonisi. During the Occupation, the Monastery of Kapsa was an important resistance center with Greek and English to resort to this just before escape underwater in Egypt. Consequently, the Germans forced the abbot of the monastery (Hilarion Syntychaki) and the monks to leave the monastery. The Kapsa Monastery is dedicated to St. John the Baptist celebrated every year on August 29th when worshipers flock crowds. Besides the privileged view, it is worth seeing the visitor and the great wooden temple