Sights | East Crete Travel Guide

Karidi

This village, about 25 km from Sitia, 23 km from Palekastro and 600m above see level, is reached either by a road that passes through various mountain hamlets (Metochia Piskokefalou) or by a new road that branches off the road…

Ancient Cemetery in Agia Fotia

This is an area of great archaeological interest because, in addition to various chance finds and signs of habitation in the cave of Koufoto on the shore, a large necropolis came to light near the cave (at a place now…

Tripitos Archaeological Site

Tripitos is a small peninsula sited 3 km from Sitia. An artificial shelter for ships dug in the rocks, has been found there and is dated from the Hellenistic period (middle of 4th - middle of 1st century B.C.). A…

Pressos Archaeological Site

The important ancient city of Pressos was the homeland of the Eteocretans--the true Cretans. These people withdrew to these three hills, built a city and continued their Minoan culture when the Dorians invaded. Remains of an older and newer city…

Petras Archaeological Site

On a low hill (h. 40 m.) by the sea lies an important Minoan settlement. It had a large harbour and was the centre of an area bordered by Chamaizi on the west, Pressos on the south, and Analoukas on…

Palekastro Archaeological Site

At the northernmost edge of the eastern coast of Crete lie the ruins of a settlement which flourished during the Late Minoan period (1550-1220 B.C.). At the same site, however, are preserved remains of the Early and Middle Minoan periods…

Makrigialos Minoan and Roman villa

Makrigialos, on the south coast, 38 kms from Sitia and 25 kms from lerapetra, is the coastal settlement of the Agios Stephanos community. It was not possible that the ancients could have ignored such a wonderful site. Chance finds came…

Toplou Gorge

Its entrance is about 200m in the west of the Monastery of Toplou. The landscape is astonishing not only because of its flora and the existence of a cluster of the palm tree Theophrastos Phoenix theophrasti, clusters of locust Ceratonia siliqua, oleander…

Archaeological Museum of Sitia

The Archaeological Museum of Sitia opened in 1984 and houses a significant collection, divided into four sections. The exhibits cover a period of approximately 4000 years, from the Final Neolithic era to the Late Roman period, and they are displayed…

Pano Peristeras Cave

It is one of the biggest caves in Crete. There is an underground river with a mapped length of routes reaching the 2,000 metres. The cave has many wells with water and its exploration requires using cavediving equipment. The cave is…