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Dragonada island
Category: Island
Prefecture: Lassithi
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Dragonada island


Dragonada  also called Dragonara, is an island within the small Dionysades group of islands off Sitia on the northeast coast of Crete. The group also includes Gianysada, Paximada, and Paximadaki. Administratively this group comes within the Sitia municipality in Lasithi.
This island is part of an environmentally protected area with many rare plants and animals including the falcon, Falco eleonorae, which finds sanctuary here.
The Dionysades were once a place of worship of the ancient Greek God Dionysus. Archaeologists have found artefacts on this island group, from the ancient and early Christian eras, indicating that the islands may have been inhabited in the past.

Places near Dragonada island


Sitia Airport VICENZOS CORNAROS
Sitia Airport VICENZOS CORNAROS 3908 hits

Sitia Airport (IATA: JSH, ICAO: LGST) is a small community airport in the region Mponta of Sitia Municipality, on the eastern part of Crete in Greece. The facility is serving the city of Sitia. The airport is located 1 km north/northwest of the city center.

Agia Aikaterini
Agia Aikaterini 3560 hits

Even though the church dedicated to Saint Catherine appears to be relatively new—since it was rebuilt in the early 19th century—we can confidently identify its location as the site of the earlier Santa Caterina church of the Augustinians.

Its first belfry, on its south-western side, was constructed in 1938. The Bema was expanded with two auxiliary spaces in the early 1950s, and the dilapidated belfry was replaced in 1953-54.

Sitia Customs Office
Sitia Customs Office 3488 hits
ΤΕΛΩΝΕΙΟ ΣΗΤΕΙΑΣ
1st Dimotiko Sitia
1st Dimotiko Sitia 3341 hits

Sitia 1st Dimotiko School

Sitia
Sitia 3250 hits

Sitia Town, East Crete. Sitia, 18 km from Palekastro and 60 from Ierapetra, with a population of 9500 people, is the easternmost city on Crete and perhaps the least developed.

Even during the busy summer peak, Sitia retains a certain charm and laid-back style. 

It has been inhabited since the Minoan period. At Petra, to the east of the town, a section of ancient settlement has been excavated. There is a waterfront with restaurants and cafes, a large public beach, and an archaeological museum which holds many of the findings from Palekastro.

Sitia Town in East Crete Sitia Town in East Crete Sitia Town in East Crete 

Sitia is the seat of administrative and public services for the county and has road and sea connections with various places in the island and with Pireaus and other Aegean islands. There is also a small airport with connection to Athens, Kassos, Karpathos, Rhodes. During the Venetian occupation the town of Sitia was destroyed three times.

In 1508 by a terrible earthquake, in 1538 by the pirate Barbarosa and in 1651 by the Venetians so as not to fall in the hands of the Turks. For two centuries Sitia ceased to exist as a town, until 1869. The present city was built in 1870.

3rd Nipiagogeio Sitias
3rd Nipiagogeio Sitias 3192 hits

3ο ΝΗΠΙΑΓΩΓΕΙΟ ΣΗΤΕΙΑΣ

Kouremenos Beach
Kouremenos Beach 3151 hits

Kouremenos Beach and windsurfing in East Crete.

The longest beach of Palekastro area (1.5 km length) is only 2 km far from Palekastro village and 20 from Sitia. It is sandy and the bottom is ideal for divers. Very close to the beach you can find some taverns that serve fresh fish any time. 

The beach here is mostly sandy with a few small pebbles dotted around, there is no need for booties here. The water is super flat but a small wind shadow directly off the beach is good for non-windsurfing spectators! The secluded bay offers a huge space which some times in July and August is frequented exclusively by windsufers.

The Area of Palekastro lies approximately 2,5 hours by car from the Heraklion airport on the far North Easterly point of Crete. The drive takes you through some stunning scenery along the Northern coast line with the most dramatic views through the winding roads of Eastern Crete. The drive is rewarded by a part of Greece that is devoid of mass tourism, some would say this is the Greece of 20 year ago.The lovers of windsurfing are attracted by it, as it is famous all around Europe for this sport. See in ythis article some windsurf- images.

Of course, Palekastro has more to offer. If you feel likehaving a day off or there is not enough wind for windsurfing, you don’t need to be worried about being bored. Round-trips in rental cars can also be recommended.
Erimoupoli
Erimoupoli 3084 hits

Itanos beaches are located 2 km north from Palm beach Vai, 8 from Palekastro and 26 from Sitia. The sandy beach of the ancient town of Itanos or Erimoupolis, Lassithi prefecture. 

If you’re looking to kick back and relax and do nothing more serious than soak up the sun or occasionally dip your toe into crystal clear waters, then the beaches at Erimoupolis or Itanos in Lassithi Prefecture could be the place for you. Reached by walking a short distance from the small car park at the ancient site of Itanos it’s some distance to any facilities so it is essential to bring plentiful supplies of water. The beaches are quiet on weekdays but are popular at weekends so can become busy. The clear water and sandy beach are perfect for a lazy day with some palm trees offering much needed shade in the heat of the day.

Area description:

There is another longer sandy beach that you can get to - on foot - over the low hill to your left, where the main road stops.

In fact, there are 3 beaches here: the first is the one at the end of the road, the second is reached walking to the north (the beach on the 1st photo) and the third is also reached walking south behind the small fortress. The third one is also suitable to spend time under the shade of the palm-trees.



However the best selection for swimming is the northern, sandy beach. The bottom of the sea is rich. There is a whole ancient city down there giving home to a variety of fish. It is a paradise for the lovers of diving.

These are amazing beaches in Crete, secluded with perfect water. During the week it is sparsely populated but come the weekends it becomes crowded especially during July and August.There are no amenities at the beach and the closest restaurant is a 10minute drive (Palm Beach Vai), so take your own water etc. Parking can be found near the ancient site of Itanos.
 

What to do..

The site of Ancient Itanos is well worth a visit, particularly as it was once the most important settlement on Crete. Visitors to the site today can see ruins including a black stone tower, and Early Christian churches. Keen snorkelers will be pleased to hear that some of the site is under water, making the views through the crystal clear water even more rewarding. The town of Sitia nearby is off the well-worn tourist track in Crete so has retained much of its charm and relaxed atmosphere. With a busy harbour, a good variety of shops, a pretty seafront and a large sandy beach of its own, it’s a good base for exploring unspoilt Crete at its best.

 

Above the beach of Erimoupolis one can observe the red marbles that are unique to the area and which belong to the Phyllite-Quartzite unit. The rock formations can be seen from the road leading to Kyriamidis Bay. 

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1ο ΕΝΙΑΙΟ ΛΥΚΕΙΟ ΣΗΤΕΙΑΣ 3054 hits

1ο ΕΝΙΑΙΟ ΛΥΚΕΙΟ ΣΗΤΕΙΑΣ

3rd Dimotiko Sitia
3rd Dimotiko Sitia 3044 hits

3ο ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΣΗΤΕΙΑΣ

Papadiokambos Beach
Papadiokambos Beach 2993 hits
Papadiokambos is located 12km west of Sitia, 4km west from Platani Beach, and 59km east of Agios Nikolaos, west of Cape Trahilos and near the Sitia Faneromeni Monastery (in Platani area). It can be accessed via a good dirt road. 

In Papadiokambos you’ll meet a long beach with large stones and rocks and an archaeological site. In some places a few bays with pebbles are formed, where you can swim. The only sure thing is that you’ll be alone, since the place is completely secluded. There is almost no infrastructure around, so be sure you have supplies with you.

Papadiokambos’ strong winds and big waves keep most visitors away. This, however, even in winter attracts the lovers of windsurfing. Papadiokambos (known by windsurfers as Faneromeni) is one of the best spots for wave sailing in Greece. Wave sailing is one of the most striking aspects of the sport. The area has strong currents, large waves 3-4m high and has actually no beach. Some places are very dangerous and you should be very careful and in advanced level, so as not to break your equipment on the rocks.
Itanos
Itanos 2944 hits
The ancient city of Itanos is also known as Erimoupolis. It was inhabited from the prehistoric to the early Byzantine era, and flourished in the Hellenistic and Roman period. It was a strong power center of the eastern coast of Crete for several centuries and often engaged in disputes with neighboring cities. At the same time it seems to have been an important port of transit trade between Crete and the East. 
The archaeological site is located near the sea and consists of three hills. In the eastern and western hill there are two citadels. The houses, public buildings and ancient market appear to have stretched to the foot of the hills, while part of the city is immersed in the sea. Three early Christian basilicas can be easily distinguished, showing the flourishing of the city during that period. Moreover, research has indicated underground remains of the city's harbor. Finally, the various inscriptions found in Itanos are of particular historical value. Best known among them is the ‘Inscription of the Magnites’, which has been nested in the wall of the catholicon of the monastery of Toplou. 
 
Itanos flourished in the historic Greek and Roman period. It was established in the Prehellenic period. Itanos became powerful and wealthy from conducting trade with Syria, Palestine and Libya. The city had its own coins and buildings covered with marble. The temple of Dictaian Zeus at Palekastro belonged administratively to the city of Itanos and that was the reason of the constant wars between Itanos and two other cities, Pressos and Ierapytna, that wanted to take the temple under their rule. The city was inhabited until the 15th century AD when the pirates forced the inhabitants to move to the hinterland of Crete. Itanos archaeologal site Itanos archaeologal site Itanos archaeologal site For the past 7 years, a coalition of European researchers has been studying the archaeological site of Itanos from various archaeological, environmental and geophysical aspects. The project, supervised by the Institute of Mediterranean Studies, the French School of Archaeology and the Technical University of Crete, has integrated a number of surveying techniques for accessing the archaeological and environmental parameters of the wider archaeological region. 
Toplou Gorge
Toplou Gorge 2918 hits
The Canyon of the Monastery of Toplou
Its entrance is 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 Nerium oleander, shinos Pistacia lentiscus, oleaster Olea europea ssp silvestris, but also its fauna which due to the existence of water in many parts gives shelter to the turtle Mauremis caspica.
 
The turtle is usually found in the ponds formed within the canyon throughout the year. The geological formations in the canyon are very interesting because they are made up of steep rocks and impressive caves as well as erosional forms called “Tafoni”.
 
At the end of the canyon to its exit to the sea the landscape changes becoming wilder and unique for the arid environment of East Crete. Although we expect to find water only in the entrance, all of a sudden we see it again in the lakes which are formed in a climax way at the exit of the canyon. It is a rare place with aquatic vegetation, running water all year round and rare reptiles.
 
The region is called Apoloustres which in the local dialect means small-sized lakes with source water animals drink water from. The journey is cyclical and the journey back goes through the smaller canyon towards the Monastery of  Toplou.
 
 
Toplou Monastery gorge is the only gorge that hasn’t developed in alpine unit limestone; instead it is found in Miocene clastic rocks. It is beautiful throughout and worth hiking along its entirety. It is home to the Cretan Date Palm, various impressive kinds of local flora, tafoni formations and springs.