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.OVERVIEW
Lasithi, where natural beauty blends seamlessly with a rich tapestry of history and culture, is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, where the most beautiful attraction is little Voulismeni Lake, which is connected to the sea by a narrow channel. Other major towns being Ierapetra and Sitia. The regional unit hosts the most important highlands on the island, the Lasithi Plateau, which is bounded by the imposing mountains of Diktis. Lasithi regional unit is also home to Elounda, where you’ll find the island’s top luxury resorts. To the east of Elounda lies the island of Spinalonga, one of Crete’s most deeply moving historical monuments, formerly a Venetian fortress and a leper colony. The region has considerable ancient history antecedents and is also the wildest region, with the richest biodiversity. Here you can find Vai, a 2000-year-old forest of palm trees, the largest in Europe with around 5000 trees (designated a protected area). Unique landscapes and places will not stop surprising you.
.AT A GLANCE
Regional unit’s capital: Agios Nikolaos Regional unit’s area: 1,823 km2 Regional Unit’s population (2021): 75,900 Density: 42/km2 Time Zone: UTC+2 Climate: Mild climate year-long.
.ADMINISTRATION
The regional unit Lasithi is subdivided into four municipalities. These are Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Oropedio Lasithiou, Siteia.
.MUNICIPALITIES
AGIOS NIKOLAOS IERAPETRA OROPEDIO LASITHIOU SITEIA
.MUNICIPALITY OF AGIOS NIKOLAOS
Area: 511,99 km2 Population (2011): 27,074 Density: 53/km2 Website: https://www.agiosnikolaos.gr/
.HISTORY
The town of Agios Nikolaos, named after the small Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas), located on the peninsula, sits partially upon the ruins of the ancient city of “Lato pros Kamara”, a thriving place in ancient times. Activity on the site continued throughout the Minoan Bronze Age and the Classical Greek and Roman periods. During the Venetian occupation, the Venetians built the fortress Mirabello (meaning beautiful view in Italian). The town declined under the Ottoman Turks, who destroyed a Genoese fortress. At the end of the Turkish occupation, after the 1866 rising, people started to come back to Agios Nikolaos. Tourism first came to Agios Nikolaos in the 1960s, much earlier than other parts of Crete, and the town began to thrive again as a popular destination for travellers.
. POINTS OF INTEREST
Lake Voulismeni: The landmark of the city is the small lake connected to the sea through a narrow channel. Also known as the Bottomless Lake, Voulismeni is the lake where goddess Athena used to take her bath, according to the mythology. Around the lake, there are several bars and restaurants.
Statues of Europa & Horn of Amalthea: Two intriguing works of art. According to Greek mythology, Zeus, the king of the Olympian Gods, transformed into a beautiful white bull to abduct Europa, a Phoenician princess, who was the girl he loved. The Horn of Amalthea, is an impressive artistic take on the legend of Zeus and the goat Amalthea who nourished him with her milk until he was grown up.
Kritsa: Located 9 km to the south of Agios Nikolaos, on a 365m altitude, Kritsa is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Crete with a marvellous view to Mirabello bay and renowned for the skill of the local weavers and embroiderers.
Diktean Cave: Also known as the Psychro Cave, near the village of Psychro it is said to be the birthplace of Zeus.
Ancient Lato: One of the most important city-states of Dorians in Crete, and is considered the most well-preserved city of the classical Hellenistic period.
Spinaloga: Known across the world as the host of the leper community from 1903 to 1957 and as one of the last active leper colonies in Europe, Spinaloga lies at the natural harbor of Elounda, and is now a popular tourist attraction.
.TOP BEACHES
Kitroplateia: One of the few in Crete to provide that town-center-by-the-sea beach location, Kitroplateia is the most important city beach in Agios Nikolaos and is mainly pebbled and shallow.
Ammos: East of Kritroplateia Beach and close to the Marina, Ammos is a sandy beach with shallow and clear waters.
Ammoudi: Well organized with crystal clear waters in a bay protected from currents and winds.
Almyros: A great beach with soft golden sand and shallow waters located 2.5km south of Agios Nikolaos.
Voulisma: A very wide and fully organized beach, with turquoise waters of a unique, exotic beauty.
Karavostassi and Ayios Panteleimonas are also popular beaches.
.GASTRONOMY
Synonymous with traditional Cretan cuisine and the modern Mediterranean diet, olive oil, wheat or barley rusk (dakos) are always present. Try well executed dishes like “kakavia” (fish stew).
.WINES & DRINKS
PDO Sitia, PDO Malvasia Sitia – Lasithi
.SHOPPING
The central shopping area is around the street Oktovriou where you can find jewelry shops, souvenir shops, shops selling leather goods and traditional Cretan products. A lot of shops can also be found on the perimeter of Lake Voulismeni. Every Wednesday don’t miss the street market which features local food items including locally grown spices, fruits, vegetables, and honey. Best souvenirs? Loofah sponges, natural olive oil soaps, organic cosmetics made with Cretan herbs.
.FEASTS, FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Dekapentavgoustos: On August 15 (or Dekapentavgoustos) the Greek Orthodox church commemorates the assumption of the Virgin Mary. This period also hosts some of the greatest Panigiria (festivals) in many villages. Panigiria is set in town squares or next to a celebrating church. In Lasithi, the most important celebrations take place in Neapoli.
.RELIGIOUS SITES
Cathedral of Megali Panagia: Inaugurated in 1927 and located in the central square of Neapolis, the cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and dominates all parts of the city, being the largest church of Eastern Crete.
Church of Panagia Kera: Dating from the 13th-century, in Kritsa, this church is one of the most significant religious monuments in Crete. Its interior is decorated with the best-preserved Byzantine frescoes on the island.
Fraro Monastery: The Catholic Monastery of the Order of the Franciscan monks dates back to the second half of the 14th century and is dedicated to Saint Anthony. Half of its abandoned katholikon is still preserved.
.ACTIVITIES
Water: The coastline is ideal to explore and enjoy water sports. Scuba diving, sea kayaking, snorkeling, stand-up paddle (SUP), and many more.
Land: Enjoy land-based activities, such as mountaineering, climbing, trekking, mountain biking, spelunking (caving), canyoning, horseback riding.
.ACCOMODATION
Crete’s top luxury hotels are located in Elounda. In Lasithi regional unit there are 31 five-star hotels, with 5,933 rooms and 12,428 beds. There are fourty 4-star hotels, with 3700 rooms and 7482 beds and forty one 3-star hotels, with 1900 rooms and 3617 beds, according to 2021 data by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.
.TRANSPORT
Port: The port of Agios Nikolaos is connected to the port of Piraeus (in Athens) and to some islands of the Aegean sea.
There is no airport in Agios Nikolaos but you can reach the airport of Heraklion (about 60 km) from Agios nikolaos. Otherwise there is also an airport in the city of Sitia (some 70 km away).
.KEY MUSEUMS
Archaeological Museum: Inaugurated in 1969, it features antiquities from Eastern Crete and is considered one of the most significant museum in Crete. The new exhibits more than double the size of the previous collection.
Folk Museum: Founded in 1978, it houses authentic and rare samples of Cretan art and reflects the island’s old traditional life.
Rodanthi Museum: In Kritsa, the museum features various groups of plants which include some of the rarest plants of Crete that have been used for thousands of years in the Cretan diet.
TO DO & TO GO
