The Kroustalenia Monastery is located 42 kilometers east of Agios Nikolaos, near the settlement of Agios Konstantinos. It is situated on a hill at a height of 800 meters, surrounded by a rocky and green environment. The Virgin Mary is honored in the Kroustalenia monastery. The earliest structure was built in 1241, during the early years of Venetian dominance. When Read more…

Ierapetra is known for its Kales Fortress. On the northern sea wall of the harbour, the Venetians erected Kales Fortress to keep an eye out for enemy ships and safeguard the harbor against Arab pirates. This castle is thought to be built on the foundations of an earlier stronghold. The stronghold of Kales is a relic of its era, with Read more…

The Minoan Palace of Zakros lies 45 kilometers southeast of Sitia town and 100 kilometers southeast of Agios Nikolaos, Lassithi. Excavations revealed that the floor layout of this palace was comparable to that of other Minoan palaces in Crete, and that it was constructed in the 19th century BC before being renovated about 1600 BC. The site was found by Read more…

In the Libyan Sea, 8 nautical miles from Ierapetra town, is the deserted islet of Chrissi (which means golden island in Greek). Gaidouronissi is the islet’s unofficial name (island of donkeys). It is essentially flat, with a maximum height of about 30 meters. Visitors who want to spend a few hours at Chrissi can relax on the little sandy beaches Read more…

Milatos Cave is located 3 kilometers outside of Milatos hamlet in the Lassithi Prefecture. Despite the cave’s lack of stalactites and stalagmites, it holds historical and sentimental significance for the inhabitants because it was here that the Turks massacred roughly 3,600 people during the Revolution in February 1823. The Revolution had erupted at the time, and the Greeks were attempting Read more…

The Toplou Monastery is one of Crete’s most significant and historically significant landmarks. On the northeastern edge of Crete, it lies 12 kilometers north of Palekastro (or Paleokastro). The monastery was founded in the mid-fifteenth century, but it was completely destroyed in 1612 by a devastating earthquake. The monastery was rebuilt with Venetian assistance, but it was devastated once again Read more…