Crete tourist guide

The best Polish website dedicated to the Greek island Crete and to a small extent of continental Greece. You will find useful information related to visiting Crete that goes beyond the offer of optional tours. On the website you will also find descriptions of the most interesting places that we visited by visiting this largest Greek island. The content complements the current news, photographs and recipes of Greek cuisine.

Itanos

Itanos

The ruins of the ancient city of Itanos are located at the eastern tip of Crete, less than 3 kilometers north of the famous palm beach of Vai . Although there are also nice beaches at Itanos, unlike its well-known neighbor, this place does not attract crowds. There are either accidental stray tourists or excavation enthusiasts here.

According to some sources, the founders of Itanos came from Phenicia. The first mention of the existence of the city already appear in Homer. In later centuries, the Greek historian Herodot wrote about him:

[...] then it did not rain on the Tara for seven years; all the trees on the island have died, except for one. So when the Teutons asked the oracle what to do, they advised Pitia to found a colony in Libya. Since they had no other remedy against evil, they sent envoys to Crete to investigate whether any of the Cretans or settlers had already reached Libya. Messengers, wandering around the island, came to the city of Itanos; there they met with a purple dye sculptor named Korobios who told them that, windswept, he got to Libya, namely the island of P late a. They rented this man and took him to Terra. [...]


Excavations at Itanos

The first excavation work in Itanos began in 1900 Federico Halbherr. He is a well-known Italian archaeologist who worked at the famous archaeological sites in Phaistos, Gortina and Agia Triada. It was thanks to him that he discovered the boards of Gotez with the code of rights he had. Further research was conducted here by Conrad Bursian, French Archaeological School, currently archaeological works are organized under the tutelage of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies.

Although the current excavations in Itanos are not very impressive and extensive, it is necessary to know that in the past this place, due to its strategic location, was an important center of trade with Egypt and the Middle East. At that time, it was also one of the most influential cities in eastern Crete. For a long time, it controlled a few nearby islands. Porphyry, sponges, glass and fish were exported on trade routes. Profits from sales and revenues related to the control of the Zeus sanctuary in Palekastro have made the city extremely rich, as evidenced by the marble from which the temples were built and luxury homes in ancient Itanos.

Columns in Itanos

Fight for domination in the region

The dynamic development and increasing influence of this city caused that it later fell into conflict with nearby Praisos. The point of this dispute was the Itanos control over the aforementioned Temple of Zeus. In view of the growing conflict in 146 BC, the inhabitants of Itanos turned to Ptolemy VI called Filmmoror, the ruler of Egypt, to help them in conflict with Praisos. The Pharaoh, in response to his request, sent on Kreta armed forces and guards who effectively contributed to the end of this war.

Another conflict, in which Itanos was involved, was also fought between this village and Ierapytna. Here the bone of discord became the island of Lefki (formerly Koufonissi), which was an important center for the production of red dye, known for its tyranian purple. This island eventually became the property of Itanos. This is indicated by the stone plaque, which is built into the wall above the entrance to the nearby Moni Toplou monastery.

The end of the dispute with Praisos and Ierapytna did not mean the end of the troubles of the inhabitants of Itanos. Local conflicts broke through this area of ​​Crete until the Roman invasion, which took place in 67 AD. The new rulers of the island allowed Itanos to regain dominance in this region of Crete. The Romans also agreed that the city would beat its coins and that its representatives would find themselves in the Cretan parliament. The autonomy and wealth of the city lasted until the Byzantine times.


Ruins of the Basilica in Itanos

The final fall

Despite the fact that in 795 the city was destroyed as a result of a strong earthquake, it was rebuilt by the inhabitants. In the fifteenth century, after a series of pirate attacks, Itanos was finally destroyed and abandoned by the then inhabitants.

Formerly, the city was located on the plain between twohills. Today, among the ruins spread on the eastern hill are the remains of an ancient acropolis, a three-nave basilica from the 5th-6th centuries and a graveyard with a grave from the Hellenistic period located north of Itanos. The remains of the walls of old buildings are full here. The impression is made of cracked overturned columns and fragments of broken pottery, which in many places densely cover the ground. A large part of excavated artifacts such as coins, pots, gold earrings and inscriptions is stored in the archaeological museum in Sitia and Heraklion. It is worth mentioning that despite the excavation work carried out here for years, most of the old city is still underground and waiting to be discovered.

Beach in Itanos

Place of three beaches

There are three beaches at Itanos called Erimoupolis, which is also the name of this region. One is right at the end of the road, the other two can be reached on foot. The best one is hidden behind the hill to the north of the parking lot located on the main road. These beaches are not crowded, so exploring the excavation can be combined with rest and swimming.

As a result of earthquakes that have haunted Crete for centuries, the western part of the island is slowly floating (6-9 meters in the last 2000 years), while the eastern part is slowly decreasing. As a result of these changes, part of the ancient Itanos is now under water and is now a habitat for marine animals and plants, which makes it a paradise for diving enthusiasts.

How to get

To get to Itanos, first of all, head towards Vai , but at the last turn heading for this beach you should not turn in the right direction, just go straight on. One and a half kilometers further, at the end of the road, there are excavations. In 2015, the admission was free.

Itanos-access

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Interesting places on Crete

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Malia
Malia

Malia

Information about one of the more known tourist cities of Crete, or about Malia. Description of attractions located in the city of Malia and a description of the specificity of this town.

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Kritsa
Kritsa

Kritsa

Kritsa is one of the largest villages in Crete. The village has a lot of shops with local crafts.

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Lasithi
Lasithi

Lasithi

The Lasithi Plateau is located about 70 kilometers from the capital of Crete - Heraklion. The average height at which the terrain of this plateau is located is 840 m above sea level.

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Dikte Cave
Dikte Cave

Dikte Cave

One of the tourist attractions eagerly visited by people spending their holidays in Crete is the Dikte (Psychro) cave. The main factors that attract people to this cave are a rich and varied dripstone robe and a close connection with mythology.

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Panagia Kera
Panagia Kera

Panagia Kera

Among the olive groves in the place called Logari, which is less than a kilometer from the village of Kritsa, there is a small Byzantine church of Panagia Kera from the 13th-14th centuries.

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Stalida
Stalida

Stalida

Stalida is located directly along the coast and is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Crete, which definitely comes alive with the advent of the tourist season

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Gorge Ha
Gorge Ha

Gorge Ha

Most people crossing the route between Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra will definitely notice the large crack which is marked by the mountain located east of this road. This majestic geological creation called Ha was probably created as a result of an earthquake.

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Xerokambos
Xerokambos

Xerokambos

Xerokambos is a small settlement in which you will find literally several taverns, and most of the buildings are single-storey and one-story houses. The big advantage of this beach is a gentle sandy descent to the sea.

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Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos (Άγιος Νικόλαος) is a small town with less than 20,000 inhabitants. permanent residents (according to statistical data from 2001). This city is the capital of the Lasithi nomos.

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Elounda
Elounda

Elounda

Although Elounda seems to be a sleepy fishing town to this day, however, appearances should not fool you, because this town and its surroundings can boast of probably the largest number of the best hotels.

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Elounda
Elounda

Elounda

Although Elounda seems to be a sleepy fishing town to this day, however, appearances should not fool you, because this town and its surroundings can boast of probably the largest number of the best hotels.

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Stalida
Stalida

Stalida

Stalida is located directly along the coast and is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Crete, which definitely comes alive with the advent of the tourist season

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Lato
Lato

Lato

The ancient city of the LATO can be found near the charming village of Krista near Agios Nikolaos.

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Gournia
Gournia

Gournia

It is recognized that Gournia was inhabited between 3000 BC. 1,200 BC and is one of the few cities unearthed to a large extent.

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Zakros
Zakros

Zakros

Zakros is the fourth-largest Minoan palace in Crete in importance and size. This latest found, built on the east coast of the island is located in the village of Káto Zákros.

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zakros
zakros

zakros

Zakros is the fourth-largest Minoan palace in Crete in importance and size. This latest found, built on the east coast of the island is located in the village of Káto Zákros.

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Palace in Malia
Palace in Malia

Palace in Malia

The first palace was built around 1900 BC. in the place where there was a quite impressive settlement whose remains were later transformed into the central part of the city.

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Moni Toplou
Moni Toplou

Moni Toplou

Moni Toplou (Μονή Τοπλού) also called as The Great Monastery is one of the most beautiful and important monasteries in Crete.

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Moni Toplou
Moni Toplou

Moni Toplou

Moni Toplou (Μονή Τοπλού) also called as The Great Monastery is one of the most beautiful and important monasteries in Crete.

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Mochlos
Mochlos

Mochlos

Mochlos is a small town located roughly halfway between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia.

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Vai
Vai

Vai

O Vai zrobiło się głośno, gdy w latach 70-tych na tle palmowego gaju nakręcono reklamę kokosowych batoników Bounty.

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Spinalonga
Spinalonga

Spinalonga

This inconspicuous little island located about 5 km from the center of Elounda is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Crete.

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Trypitos
Trypitos

Trypitos

When heavy equipment entered the promontory near Sitia, no one expected that this area contained the ruins of the Hellenic city.

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Richtis
Richtis

Richtis

The abundance of water and shade mean that even at the peak of the tourist season, this place is full of lush vegetation.

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Chamaizi
Chamaizi

Chamaizi

At the top of a cone-shaped hill called Souvloto Mouri, the remains of an unusual building with a unique oval shape were discovered.

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Moni Toplou Winery
Itanos
Itanos

Itanos

The ruins of the ancient city of Itanos are located at the eastern tip of Crete, less than 3 kilometers north of the famous palm beach of Vai. Although there are also nice beaches at Itanos, unlike its well-known neighbor, this place does not attract crowds. There are either accidental stray tourists or excavation enthusiasts here.

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Roussolakos
Roussolakos

Roussolakos

Just over 2 km from Palekastro, next to Chiona beach, there is a large archaeological site called Roussolakos

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Roussolakos
Roussolakos

Roussolakos

Just over 2 km from Palekastro, next to Chiona beach, there is a large archaeological site called Roussolakos

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Ierapetra
Ierapetra

Ierapetra

Ierapetra (Ιεράπετρα) is the fourth largest city of Crete and also the largest town located in the Lassithi prefecture.

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Diaskari - Green Beach
Diaskari - Green Beach

Diaskari - Green Beach

Diaskari Beach, also known as Green Beach, is less than 3 km from Makry Gialos.

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Koufonissi - cruise to the island
Koufonissi - cruise to the island

Koufonissi - cruise to the island

Koufonissi is a small island in the Libyan Sea, located just a stone's throw from the southern coast of Crete.

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Makry Gialos
Makry Gialos

Makry Gialos

Makry Gialos is one of the less-appreciated tourist destinations in Crete.

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Sitia
Sitia

Sitia

Less than 10,000 population of Sitia makes the city the smallest in Crete. Some even go a step further and say perversely that it is rather the largest village of Crete.

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Napoleon's house
Napoleon's house

Napoleon's house

Napoleon's house is one of the few typically tourist attractions in Ierapetra. About what could have happened here in the summer of 1798 and possibly how much in this legend is the truth we write in the article on the page below.

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Zakros and Kato Zakros
Zakros and Kato Zakros

Zakros and Kato Zakros

Zakros is a small town on the east coast of Crete, less than 40 km south-east of Sitia.

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Moni Kpasa
Moni Kpasa

Moni Kpasa

Moni Kapsa Monastery is one of the most interesting monasteries in Crete. Its massive buildings were erected on rocky, gray slopes surrounding the nearby Pervolakia Gorge.

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Pachia Ammos
Pachia Ammos

Pachia Ammos

However, Pachia Ammos is not a typical crowded and lively tourist destination, which is not lacking in the north of Crete.

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Komentarze

2016-03-29 05:25:51

I was there. Beatifull place.

1
 gość}
gość PiotrWie
2016-03-29 09:10:40

My mieliśmy pecha - jak dojechaliśmy do Itanos zaczął padać deszcz - w czerwcu!! - i to nie taki deszczyk jak sie zdarza ne Krecie, a konkretny - jak w Polsce. Jak dojechaliśmy potem do Palokastro to była taka ulwea że przez 15 min nie dało się wysiąść z samochodu. Ale na pewno tam wrócimy.

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Minoan villa in Vathipetro

Minoan villa in Vathipetro

Most of the people who were in Crete heard of the great Minoan palaces, and a significant part certainly visited even Knossos. However, in addition to the famous grand palaces on the island in the Minoan period, a number of smaller residences were created. One of the most important examples is the Vathipetro discovered about 5 km north of Archanes, on the southeastern slope of Mount Juchtas in the central part of Crete.

Roussolakos - ruins of the Minoan city next to Palekastro

Roussolakos - ruins of the Minoan city next to Palekastro

Redirected from the site - Paleokastro. Just over 2 km from Palekastro, next to Chiona beach, there is a large archaeological site called Roussolakos, which is worth visiting in this region of Crete.

Knossos - concrete excavations

Knossos - concrete excavations

Knossos is one of the flagship monuments visited by tourists, it is also the most popular place where organized trips go. One of the more characteristic elements associated with the Knossos Palace is the red columns. Although they are currently made of concrete, they were originally made of cypress trunk.

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Najnowsze komentarze:

Καλή Σαρακοστή ☺
Warto zobaczyć, byliśmy jest pieknie
Piękne miejsce.
Prace wykonane przez Evansa, tak bardzo kontrowersyjne, doprowadziły jednak do tego, że Pałac w Knossos jest najchętniej odwiedzanym zabytkiem na Krecie. Pałac w Zakros czy nawet Fajstos, tak bardzo autentyczne, nie mogą się poszczycić taką popularnością. (...)
Niezapomniane wrażenia
Byłam, widziałam, poczułam moc tego miejsca
Warto zwiedzić.
Nádherná památka byla jsem tam 2x ❤️
gość PiotrWie : Już i na południu jest sporo ludzi - pamiętam puste plaże za Asterousią a w 2019 i w Tris Ekklisies i w Lentas a nawet na plażach Tripiti i Trachoulas było sporo ludzi.A na Serifos czy Kimolos byliśmy sami ewentualnie z jakąś drugą dwójką.
Zostaje mniej oblegane południe , ja pamiętam Kretę z przed 2 dekad i Balos gdzie prawie nie było ludzi :)
Taknpomyślałam, że pewnie trochę zatrzęsło... A wówczas nawet wykonane prace zabezpieczające nie dadzą 100% bezpieczeństwa. Dobrze, że nikt nie ucierpiał
gość PiotrWie : My wybieramy się w maju na Ikarię. Tam czegoś takiego nie będzie jeszcze jakiś czas. Polecam wyspy na którym nie ma lotnisk międzynarodowych - chętni na takie resorty nie uznają podróży z przesiadkami. Np Serifos, Sifnos czy Astipaleę.  
Dobrze, że są miejsca gdzie udało się odsunąć te plany. Typu Plakias , Falassarna
To już nie będzie Kreta dzika i swojska. Będą tłumy i komercja.
Masakra
Pamiętam lekki chłód w porównaniu z upałem sierpniowym poza wąwozem i taką duszącą wilgoć
Ciekawe miejsce. Idąc tam , próbowaliśmy cofnąć czas, wyobrażając sobie wioskę w pełnym rozkwicie…
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Ciekawe miejsca na Krecie

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