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A journey to Sitia is a pilgrimage, to the
springs of the European civilization!
The Minoan civilization, as known, is the first high level
civilization on European ground and you find the first hubs and
harbors of this civilization here at the Eastern Crete in
Æakros and Palaikastro in Mochlos and Psira. Many
charming and ancient myths take reference on these places.
Zeus the king of gods, according to the myth in the form of a
shining bull abducted Europa the beautiful daughter of the
Phoenician King put her on his back, and carried her by the sea to
Crete and let her on the seashore somewhere near Palekastro
and Vai to rest and then they continued their trip to the
Sanctuary of Dictean Zeus and Gortyna.
The myth contains of course historical evidence concerning the
relationship of Crete to the East and explains why the first
European Civilization started here at the Eastern Crete which is the
nearest spot to Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine and ancient Phoenicia.
Moreover in Palekastro there was the grand temple of Dictean
Kritagenis Zeus and this is where his hymn was found carved on a
plate. Every year naked, young shield-bearers sang this hymn dancing
around his altar imitating the Curettes who were present at his
birth. In the reality this is the first hymn to Peace and Peaceful
Life.
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Sitia 1870 |
Sita 1910 |
Sita 1940 |
Sita 1933 |
The young men were asking Zeus to come to
earth together with the Curettes and bring happiness to people,
peace to the world, justice and solicitude to the young, fertility
to the earth, fair winds to ships and so on. The temple of Dictean
Zeus is connected with one of the earliest ecological statutes in
the world: The felling of trees which belonged to the Dictean Zeus
temple was strictly forbidden with the threat of severe penalties!
Here at the cape of Cavo Sidero also Samonio, in the antique
existed the temple of the Samonio Athina and here god Dionysus did
something unprecedented and created small islands named after him,
the "Dionisades".
Nowhere else in the world the Nature and the Myth match so well
together. It is remarkable that the habits and rituals of
worship, the myths and the legends survive even today in some
villages of Sitia area.
Those who explore the area will find that eastern Crete has remained
the most unspoiled area of Crete, the extreme eastern coast being
the most wild and beautiful on the island. The town was rebuilt
amphitheatrically in the corner of the bay of Sitia in 1870; having
been previously destroyed by earthquakes and pirates. There are
45 villages to discover in the area of Sitia, a region renowned for
its hospitality.
Sitia is a lively town with approximately 11.000 inhabitants. The
district is famous for its considerable olive oil production and for
the excellent quality of its olive oil and wines. There are numerous
local festivals in traditional Cretan style held in villages
throughout the summer, which are well-worth attending, as well as
cultural events in the town.
Sitia is a town that accepts the past and is longing for the modern.
There you can sense the hidden magic and peacefulness mixed with
life and vividness.
Those who choose to visit Sitia should not miss doing some
things.
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Do not forget to visit the many exhibits of
the Folklore Museum
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The Archaeological Museum of Sitia one
of the most important provincial museums in Greece. There are
exhibits of the whole Sitia area from a time of 4000 years, from the
Neolithic Era (3500 B.C.) to the Byzantine period (500 A.D.). These
exhibits of great value i.e. the unique statuette of the Minoan time
made of gold and ivory found in Palekastro and many others.
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Do not forget to admire the view over Sitia
Bay from the Venetian castle of Kazarma especially in the
summer nights. There is also a specially fit out place for artistic
events as part of "Kornarion", the festival - tribute to the great
poet of the masterpiece "Erotokritos", Vintsenzos Kornaros, who
comes from the Sitia area. He refers to this area at the end of his
poem where he describes his place of origin.
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Go shopping and purchase souvenirs and
artefacts.
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Taste the fresh fruit at the open market, all
products of the Sitian land.
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Enjoy the delicious local pastry as the well
known "kaltsounia" and "xerotigana"
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Feel the sea breeze while enjoying the meal at
the picturesque taverns at the port.
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Discover the traditional food in a restaurant
either on the terrace of an old estate or in a neighborhood of the
town.
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Discover your own Sitia area, choose your
own routes and follow the roads that will excite you. Get to know
the simplicity and kindness of the people in the town at the
south-eastern end of Europe.
The whole district abounds in archaeological and historical interest
from the Ìinoan period onwards. Within easy reach of Sitia, there
are many places to be visited, such as the TOPLOU Monastery,
the fourth in size Minoan Palace of Kato Zakros, and other
important archaeological sites at Palekastro, Itanos, Pressos and
many more. There are two fine museums in Sitia, archaeological and
folklore, with many fascinating exhibits.
For the walker, the hills are covered with aromatic plants and
hundreds of beautiful flowers, especially in the springtime.
East Crete is ideal for those who enjoy walking, be it a
short walk or a good hike! There are some routes in and around Sitia
and, in the Palekastro area, 5 routes of varying lengths and
difficulty have been specifically mapped out. One of the walks'
is through the gorge of Kato Zakros, at the end of which,
there is a section marked out for rock climbing.
Walking along sections of the Å4 European mountaineering path
(which runs along the whole of Crete starts from Kato Zakros), you will discover some of the
most beautiful, wild terrain and meet equally memorable people.
Flower lovers will be amazed by the beautiful wild flowers
and herbs which cover the countryside during April and May.
Divers will also find the area to be of great interest.
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