Ierapetra
Encyclopedia
Ierapetra is a town in the southeast of the Greek
island of Crete
and a municipality of Crete region.
and southwest of Sitia
and is an important regional centre. With its 15,323 inhabitants (2001) it is the most populous town in the prefecture of Lasithi
, and the fourth town of Crete. Ierapetra is nicknamed "bride of the Libya
n Sea" because of its position as the only town on the south coast of Crete
.
since the Minoan period. The Greek
and later Roman
town of Hierapytna was on the same site as present day Ierapetra. In the Classical Age
Ierapytna became the strongest town of eastern Crete and as a Dorian city in continual rivalry with Praisos, the last Minoan city in the island. Later, in the 3rd century BC, Hierapytna was notorious for its tendency to piracy and took part in the Cretan War
along with other Cretan cities in the side of Philip V of Macedon
against Knossos
and Rhodes
.Its importance as independent state ended when it was conquered by the Romans in 67 BC (the last free city in Crete) and was surpassed by the city of Gortyn
. The Roman conquest of Ierapetra occurred about the same time as that of Knossos
, Cydonia and Lato
. Today remains of the Roman harbor can still be seen in the shallow bay. In AD 824 it was destroyed by Arab
invaders, only to be rebuilt as a base for pirates again.
In the Venetian Age
, from the 13th to the 17th centuries, Ierapetra - now known by its present name - became prosperous again. The Fortress of Kales, built in the early years of Venetian rule and strengthened by Francesco Morosini
in 1626 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/crete/ierapetra/sights to protect the harbor, is a remnant of this period, although local myth says it was built by the Genoese
pirate Pescatore in 1212. In July 1798 Ierapetra made a small step into world history: Napoleon
stayed with a local family http://www.historynet.com/napoleonic-wars-battle-of-the-pyramids.htm after the Battle of the Pyramids
in Egypt
. The house where he stayed can still be seen. In the Ottoman period
a mosque
was built in the town. Finds from Ierapetra's past can be found in the local Museum of Antiquities, formerly a school for Muslim
children. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a well preserved statue of Persephone
.
street layout with narrow alleyways, cul-de-sac
s and small houses, creating a village-like atmosphere. The former mosque and the "house of Napoleon" can be found in this neighbourhood, as can Aghios Georgios metropolitan church (built in 1856) in the town's center. It is considered one of the most interesting churches of Crete
. The ceiling of the church has many "blind" domes. Those, as well as the central dome, are wooden (mainly cedar wood). Pano Mera is the much bigger new town, with wider streets and three and four storey houses. Pano Mera is still expanding towards the west, north and east.
Ierapetra's main shopping street is Koundouriotou. In the centre the town hall, the museum and two cinemas can be found. The local hospital lies in Pano Mera. To the west is the southern headland with the fortress, a port for fishing boats and ´Navmachia´ area, where sea fights among slaves for citizens´ pleasure were taking place, during Roman period. Further east is a short beach with bars and restaurants, followed by the quay for ferries to Chrissi. Further on lies the main boulevard with hotels, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. At its end a new promenade leads alongside Ierapetra Bay's long beach.
has planned the development of a new international port. This plan is being opposed by some citizens who think it will destroy the local environment
and scenery. They are supported by Ecocrete.gr, the local environmental tribune.
However, despite the promises by the socialist government, problems loomed surrounding health services and the lack of staff in the one and only hospital in the region. As a result, a new round of protests commenced on 26 May 2011, with a rally outside the seat of the municipality, in Ierapetra. Around 1,000 people protested the latest developments demanding the upgrading of the hospital and came to storm the building of the town hall. The protest, which is regarded as with no precedent for the region, lasted for 16 days A row between the municipal authorities and the commission that advocated the upgrade of the hospital resulted in a standstill, with the prosecution of the people who led the storming of the town hall. The Head of the local Church, Evgenios, mediated and went to Athens, along with the mayor and other officials. This resulted in having the agreement for the upgrade of the hospital officially signed in. Following an order by the incumbent mayor, 14 citizens were put to trial for the occupation of the town hall and were unanimously found not guilty on 11 July 2011. It was the first such trial in the town to date. Another protest followed with a march by people from Ierapetra to Iraklion, on 20 July 2011.
The former municipality of Ierapetra, a municipal unit since January 2011, covers an area of 394.774 square kilometres, a population of 23,707 (2001), nearly twice that of the town, 15,323 (2001) and consisted of the town of Ierapetra, several villages and hamlets and the island of Chrissi. These settlements are: Agia Fotia
, Agios Ioannis
, Anatoli, Amoudares, Ano Simi
, Christos, Drakalevri, Episkopi
, Ferma
, Gdochia
, Gra Lygia, Kaimenos, Kalamafka, Kalogeri, Kamara, Kato Chorio, Kavousi
, Kentri, Koutsounari
, Males
, Mathokotsana, Melises, Meseleri
, Monastiraki, Minos, Mythi, Mournies, Myrtos
, Nea Anatoli, Nea Myrtos, Pachia Ammos, Panagia, Pano Chorio, Psathi, Riza, Selakano
, Stavros, Stomio, Sykia, Thrypti, Vainia, Vasiliki
, Vatos, Xerambela and Xerokambos.
The municipal unit Makry Gialos
, established as a municipality in 1998, with an area of 156.300 square kilometers and a population of 4,204 in 2001, consists of the communities of Schinokapsala
, Oreino, Stavrochori
, Chrysopigi, Agios Stefanos
, Pefki, Lithines and Perivolakia.
The area's main economic activities are agriculture
in the winter and tourism
in the summer. The agricultural production can be divided into two main parts. Whereas olive oil
has been produced all over the municipality at least since Minoan times
, for the last thirty years large quantities of fruit and vegetables have also been exported. These are grown in plastic greenhouse
s, which spread over an area of 13,000,000 square meters between the town of Ierapetra and Nea Myrtos. They were introduced by the Dutchman Paul Kuypers
. Mainly because of the greenhouse production the inhabitants of Ierapetra are on average the richest on Crete.
Island is Greece's warmest city with a mean annual temperature of 20.1°C. Ierapetra has 3101 hours of sunshine per year and is again Greece's sunniest city according to HNMS
Chrissi (Golden) or Gaidhouronisi (Donkey Island) is an uninhabited island some twelve kilometers off the coast of the town of Ierapetra. It is five kilometers long and on average one kilometer wide. The island's average height above sea level is ten meters; Kefala, the highest point of the island, is 31 meters above sea level. The island is renowned for its white beaches, sand dunes and forest of pine
s and juniper
s. The western tip of the island has some remains of past settlement: a few Minoan
ruins and a 13th century chapel dedicated to Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas
). It was inhabited into Byzantine times
. The main sources of wealth were fishing
, salt
export, and the export of porphyra (Tyrian purple)
, a scarlet dye made from shells. After the Byzantine period the island was abandoned, although later it was used as a hideout.
Nowadays the island is protected
as an "area of intense natural beauty". Especially in summer, the island attracts many tourists. As camping is forbidden on the island, only day trips are possible. Ferries leave the quay at Ierapetra daily at 10 A.M. and return at 5 P.M. Visitors are not allowed to roam freely over the island, but only on designated paths and some beaches close to the eastern tip of the island. There is a small tavern at the ferry landing. 700 meters to the east of Chrissi lies the rocky islet of Mikronisi (Small Island).
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
and a municipality of Crete region.
History
The town of Ierapetra (in the local dialect: Γεράπετρο Gerapetro) is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios NikolaosAgios Nikolaos, Crete
Agios Nikolaos is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. In the year 2000, the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, which takes in part of the surrounding villages, claimed around 19,000...
and southwest of Sitia
Sitia
Sitia refers both to the port town, with 8,900 inhabitants and to the municipality with 19,209 inhabitants in Lasithi, Crete . It lies to the east of Agios Nikolaos and to the northeast of Ierapetra. Sitia port is on the Sea of Crete, which is a part of the Aegean Sea and is one of the economic...
and is an important regional centre. With its 15,323 inhabitants (2001) it is the most populous town in the prefecture of Lasithi
Lasithi
Lasithi is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete, to the east of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli. The mountains include the Dikte to the west and the Sitia Mountains to the east...
, and the fourth town of Crete. Ierapetra is nicknamed "bride of the Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n Sea" because of its position as the only town on the south coast of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
Antiquity
Ierapetra has had a place in the history of CreteHistory of Crete
The History of Crete goes back to the 7th Millennium B.C., preceding the ancient Minoan civilization by more than four millennia. The Minoan civilization was the first civilization in Europe and the first, in Europe, to build a palace...
since the Minoan period. The Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and later Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
town of Hierapytna was on the same site as present day Ierapetra. In the Classical Age
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
Ierapytna became the strongest town of eastern Crete and as a Dorian city in continual rivalry with Praisos, the last Minoan city in the island. Later, in the 3rd century BC, Hierapytna was notorious for its tendency to piracy and took part in the Cretan War
Cretan War
The Cretan War was fought by King Philip V of Macedon, the Aetolian League, several Cretan cities and Spartan pirates against the forces of Rhodes and later Attalus I of Pergamum, Byzantium, Cyzicus, Athens and Knossos.The Macedonians had just concluded the First Macedonian War and Philip, seeing...
along with other Cretan cities in the side of Philip V of Macedon
Philip V of Macedon
Philip V was King of Macedon from 221 BC to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of Rome. Philip was attractive and charismatic as a young man...
against Knossos
Knossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
and Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
.Its importance as independent state ended when it was conquered by the Romans in 67 BC (the last free city in Crete) and was surpassed by the city of Gortyn
Gortyn
Gortyn, Gortys or Gortyna is a municipality and an archaeological site on the Mediterranean island of Crete, 45 km away from the modern capital Heraklion. The seat of the municipality is the village Agioi Deka...
. The Roman conquest of Ierapetra occurred about the same time as that of Knossos
Knossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
, Cydonia and Lato
Lato
Lato was an ancient city of Crete, the ruins of which are located approximately 3 km from the small town of Kritsa. The Dorian city-state was built in a defensible position overlooking Mirabello Bay between two peaks, both of which became acropolises to the city...
. Today remains of the Roman harbor can still be seen in the shallow bay. In AD 824 it was destroyed by Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
invaders, only to be rebuilt as a base for pirates again.
Venetian Era
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, from the 13th to the 17th centuries, Ierapetra - now known by its present name - became prosperous again. The Fortress of Kales, built in the early years of Venetian rule and strengthened by Francesco Morosini
Francesco Morosini
Francesco Morosini was the Doge of Venice from 1688 to 1694, at the height of the Great Turkish War...
in 1626 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/crete/ierapetra/sights to protect the harbor, is a remnant of this period, although local myth says it was built by the Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
pirate Pescatore in 1212. In July 1798 Ierapetra made a small step into world history: Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
stayed with a local family http://www.historynet.com/napoleonic-wars-battle-of-the-pyramids.htm after the Battle of the Pyramids
Battle of the Pyramids
The Battle of the Pyramids, also known as the Battle of Embabeh, was fought on July 21, 1798 between the French army in Egypt under Napoleon Bonaparte, and local Mamluk forces. It occurred during France's Egyptian Campaign and was the battle where Napoleon put into use one of his significant...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The house where he stayed can still be seen. In the Ottoman period
Ottoman Greece
Most of Greece gradually became part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until its declaration of independence in 1821, a historical period also known as Tourkokratia ....
a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
was built in the town. Finds from Ierapetra's past can be found in the local Museum of Antiquities, formerly a school for Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
children. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a well preserved statue of Persephone
Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
.
Modern Era
Present day Ierapetra consists of two quite distinct parts, Kato Mera and Pano Mera. Kato Mera is the old town on the southwestern headland. It is characterized by a medievalMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
street layout with narrow alleyways, cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
s and small houses, creating a village-like atmosphere. The former mosque and the "house of Napoleon" can be found in this neighbourhood, as can Aghios Georgios metropolitan church (built in 1856) in the town's center. It is considered one of the most interesting churches of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. The ceiling of the church has many "blind" domes. Those, as well as the central dome, are wooden (mainly cedar wood). Pano Mera is the much bigger new town, with wider streets and three and four storey houses. Pano Mera is still expanding towards the west, north and east.
Ierapetra's main shopping street is Koundouriotou. In the centre the town hall, the museum and two cinemas can be found. The local hospital lies in Pano Mera. To the west is the southern headland with the fortress, a port for fishing boats and ´Navmachia´ area, where sea fights among slaves for citizens´ pleasure were taking place, during Roman period. Further east is a short beach with bars and restaurants, followed by the quay for ferries to Chrissi. Further on lies the main boulevard with hotels, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. At its end a new promenade leads alongside Ierapetra Bay's long beach.
Infrastructure
The local governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
has planned the development of a new international port. This plan is being opposed by some citizens who think it will destroy the local environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
and scenery. They are supported by Ecocrete.gr, the local environmental tribune.
Health
The local hospital (General Hospital of Ierapetra) was set up in 1955 with funds coming from Cretans who lived in the USA. In 2010 it was announced that under a government plan for new administrative divisions, called "the Kallikratis Project", the hospital was to shut down. This sparked an unprecedented wave of protests within the region, as the hospital serves 40,000 people, including some from the neighboring prefecture of Iraklion. The protests were culminated to a march that took place on 25 January 2011. Another march from Ierapetra to Iraklion followed on the same day, where over 2,500 people from and around the town, participated and showed their anger for the decision by the central government to close the hospital. Protests included occupation of the building where the Decentralised Administration is located and an outdoors theatrical play by the protestors. Following those incidents, it was announced that the authorities had decided to halt the process of degrading and closing the hospital. Instead, the latter was funded with 1 mn euros and more doctors were to be sent.However, despite the promises by the socialist government, problems loomed surrounding health services and the lack of staff in the one and only hospital in the region. As a result, a new round of protests commenced on 26 May 2011, with a rally outside the seat of the municipality, in Ierapetra. Around 1,000 people protested the latest developments demanding the upgrading of the hospital and came to storm the building of the town hall. The protest, which is regarded as with no precedent for the region, lasted for 16 days A row between the municipal authorities and the commission that advocated the upgrade of the hospital resulted in a standstill, with the prosecution of the people who led the storming of the town hall. The Head of the local Church, Evgenios, mediated and went to Athens, along with the mayor and other officials. This resulted in having the agreement for the upgrade of the hospital officially signed in. Following an order by the incumbent mayor, 14 citizens were put to trial for the occupation of the town hall and were unanimously found not guilty on 11 July 2011. It was the first such trial in the town to date. Another protest followed with a march by people from Ierapetra to Iraklion, on 20 July 2011.
Municipality
The municipality of Ierapetra was formed under the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units:- Ierapetra
- Makry GialosMakry GialosMakry Gialos is a former municipality in Lasithi, Crete, Greece, with a population 4,204 in 2001. It is located on the south-east coast of Crete. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ierapetra, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was in...
The former municipality of Ierapetra, a municipal unit since January 2011, covers an area of 394.774 square kilometres, a population of 23,707 (2001), nearly twice that of the town, 15,323 (2001) and consisted of the town of Ierapetra, several villages and hamlets and the island of Chrissi. These settlements are: Agia Fotia
Agia Fotia
Agia Fotia is a settlement on Crete in the prefecture of Lasithi. It is situated in a wooded valley, 14 kilometers east of Ierapetra....
, Agios Ioannis
Agios Ioannis, Lasithi
Agios Ioannis is a village of Lasithi prefecture, in the municipality of Ierapetra. It lies 17 kilometers north-east of Ierapetra, 7 kilometers west of Schinokapsala and 9 kilometers from the sea . It is built south of Thripti mountain in a site with spectacular view...
, Anatoli, Amoudares, Ano Simi
Ano Simi
Ano Simi is a village on Crete in the prefecture of Lasithi. It is part of Ierapetra municipality and borders Viannos municipality. It lies about 900 meters above sea level, south of Mount Dikti in what is probably the most wooded area of Crete. It is about 1 kilometer from Kato Simi, and 32...
, Christos, Drakalevri, Episkopi
Episkopi, Lasithi
Episkopi Ierapetras is a village on the Greek island of Crete. Episkopi belongs to the municipality of Ierapetra in the prefecture of Lasithi. It lies north of Ierapetra in the middle of the narrowest part of the island. The village has approximately one thousand inhabitants.The village was...
, Ferma
Ferma, Greece
Ferma is a settlement in the municipality of Ierapetra on the island of Crete. It is situated at the coast, 11 kilometers east of Ierapetra. Its beach is well known for its beauty....
, Gdochia
Gdochia
Gdochia is a village on Crete 20 kilometers west of Ierapetra built in an area with spectacular view of Ierapetra town and the sea. It is said to receive his name from an ancient word that means "it has rain". In September 1943, over 40 residents of Gdochia were brutally executed by the...
, Gra Lygia, Kaimenos, Kalamafka, Kalogeri, Kamara, Kato Chorio, Kavousi
Kavousi
Kavousi is a historic village in the municipality of Ierapetra in the prefecture of Lasithi in eastern Crete. It is situated 19 kilometers northeast of Ierapetra, 26 km east of Agios Nikolaos and 42 km west of Sitia. The village is located in the northern foothills of the Thripti...
, Kentri, Koutsounari
Koutsounari
Koutsounari is a settlement in the municipality of Ierapetra, on the island of Crete. It lies 8 kilometers east of Ierapetra and has a beautiful beach named Long Beach....
, Males
Males, Crete
Males is a historic village in the municipality of Ierapetra in Lasithi prefecture on Crete. It is situated 25 kilometers north-west of Ierapetra, 40 from Agios Nikolaos and 12 kilometers away from the sea . Together with nearby hamlets Hristos and Metaxohori Males until recently formed the Nea...
, Mathokotsana, Melises, Meseleri
Meseleri
Meseleroi is a village in the east of the Greek island of Crete, in the prefecture of Lasithi. It is located 9km north of Ierapetra, and lies within its administrative limits. The village is 360 meters above sea level....
, Monastiraki, Minos, Mythi, Mournies, Myrtos
Myrtos
Myrtos is a coastal village in the west of the municipality of Ierapetra, in the prefecture of Lasithi on the island of Crete in Greece. It is located from Ierapetra, the most southern town of Europe and from Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Viannos...
, Nea Anatoli, Nea Myrtos, Pachia Ammos, Panagia, Pano Chorio, Psathi, Riza, Selakano
Selakano
Selakano is a forested valley and a hamlet in the municipality of Ierapetra on the island of Crete. Selakano forms one of the most important ecosystems on Crete. The forest core of wild pine is also important on the Mediterranean level...
, Stavros, Stomio, Sykia, Thrypti, Vainia, Vasiliki
Vasiliki, Lasithi
Vasiliki is the name of a village in the municipality of Ierapetra, in the prefecture of Lasithi, on Crete, and the name of the nearby Minoan archeological site. The site took its name from the village.-Geography:...
, Vatos, Xerambela and Xerokambos.
The municipal unit Makry Gialos
Makry Gialos
Makry Gialos is a former municipality in Lasithi, Crete, Greece, with a population 4,204 in 2001. It is located on the south-east coast of Crete. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ierapetra, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was in...
, established as a municipality in 1998, with an area of 156.300 square kilometers and a population of 4,204 in 2001, consists of the communities of Schinokapsala
Schinokapsala
Schinokapsala is a small village in Lasithi prefecture on Crete. It is situated 21 kilometers north-east from Ierapetra and 6 from the sea...
, Oreino, Stavrochori
Stavrochori, Lasithi
Stavrochori is a historic village of eastern Crete. It belonged to the former province of Sitia and later to the former Makry Gialos municipality. Today it is part of Ierapetra municipality. It is located in a wooded valley, 29 kilometers north east from Ierapetra and 35 kilometers southwest from...
, Chrysopigi, Agios Stefanos
Agios Stefanos, Crete
Agios Stefanos is a village of Lasithi perfecture in eastern Crete.Once, it belonged to the ex-province of Sitia and later to former Makry Gialos municipality. Today it is part of Ierapetra municipality. It is located 30 kilometers north east from Ierapetra,40 kilometers southwest from...
, Pefki, Lithines and Perivolakia.
Economy
| Employment Employment Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :... |
| Primary sector: 49% |
| Secondary sector: 14% |
| Tertiary sector: 37% |
The area's main economic activities are agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in the winter and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
in the summer. The agricultural production can be divided into two main parts. Whereas olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
has been produced all over the municipality at least since Minoan times
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
, for the last thirty years large quantities of fruit and vegetables have also been exported. These are grown in plastic greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s, which spread over an area of 13,000,000 square meters between the town of Ierapetra and Nea Myrtos. They were introduced by the Dutchman Paul Kuypers
Paul Kuypers
Paul Herman Felix Kuypers was a Dutch agriculture expert, widely known in Ierapetra as the "Dutchman". He is credited with introducing new planting techniques first on Syros island and later in Ierapetra, Crete. He came to Ierapetra in 1966 and co-operated with local farmers...
. Mainly because of the greenhouse production the inhabitants of Ierapetra are on average the richest on Crete.
Geography
- Bramiana Dam, an artificial dam and lake. The lake was made to supply the local greenhouseGreenhouseA greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
s with water in the dry summer. The lake area is the biggest wetlandWetlandA wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
on Crete, and has become a nature reserve known for its birdlife. - Mount Dikti
- Mount Thryptis
- SelakanoSelakanoSelakano is a forested valley and a hamlet in the municipality of Ierapetra on the island of Crete. Selakano forms one of the most important ecosystems on Crete. The forest core of wild pine is also important on the Mediterranean level...
Forest - Sarakina GorgeSarakina GorgeThe Sarakina Gorge is a canyon in the southeastern part of Crete, Greece. It is located about 15 km west of Ierapetra and a few kilometres upcountry of Myrtos, near the small village of Mithi.- Facts :Its length is about 1.5 km and the width between 3 and 10 meters, only at a few point...
- Ha GorgeHa GorgeHa Gorge is a gorge on the eastern part of the island ofCrete in Greece. It is located in the west slope of Thrypti mountain and exits eastof Vasiliki village in the plain of Ierapetra. The gorge is about 1.5km...
- Avgo Gorge
- Ano SimiAno SimiAno Simi is a village on Crete in the prefecture of Lasithi. It is part of Ierapetra municipality and borders Viannos municipality. It lies about 900 meters above sea level, south of Mount Dikti in what is probably the most wooded area of Crete. It is about 1 kilometer from Kato Simi, and 32...
- Orino-Butterfly gorge
- Pefki gorge
- Pervolakia gorge
Climate
Ierapetra average annual temperature is 19.7°C (1956-1997 HNMS). According to HNMS published material Ierapetra alongside KarpathosKarpathos
Karpathos is the second largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands, in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Together with the neighboring smaller Saria Island it forms the municipality Karpathos, which is part of the Karpathos peripheral unit. From its remote position Karpathos has preserved many...
Island is Greece's warmest city with a mean annual temperature of 20.1°C. Ierapetra has 3101 hours of sunshine per year and is again Greece's sunniest city according to HNMS
Transportation
One can travel to Ierapetra by plane boarding onto domestic or charter flights to Sitia airport (59 km) or Heraklion airport (94 km). There are also frequent ferry departures from Piraeus to Sitia and Heraklion ports.Chrissi
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s and juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
s. The western tip of the island has some remains of past settlement: a few Minoan
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
ruins and a 13th century chapel dedicated to Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
). It was inhabited into Byzantine times
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. The main sources of wealth were fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
export, and the export of porphyra (Tyrian purple)
Tyrian purple
Tyrian purple , also known as royal purple, imperial purple or imperial dye, is a purple-red natural dye, which is extracted from sea snails, and which was possibly first produced by the ancient Phoenicians...
, a scarlet dye made from shells. After the Byzantine period the island was abandoned, although later it was used as a hideout.
Nowadays the island is protected
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
as an "area of intense natural beauty". Especially in summer, the island attracts many tourists. As camping is forbidden on the island, only day trips are possible. Ferries leave the quay at Ierapetra daily at 10 A.M. and return at 5 P.M. Visitors are not allowed to roam freely over the island, but only on designated paths and some beaches close to the eastern tip of the island. There is a small tavern at the ferry landing. 700 meters to the east of Chrissi lies the rocky islet of Mikronisi (Small Island).
Minoan sites
- GourniaGourniaGournia is the site of a Minoan palacecomplex on the island of Crete, Greece, excavated in the early 20th century by theAmerican archaeologist, Harriet Boyd-Hawes. Gournia lies in the municipality of Ierapetrain the prefecture of Lasithi.-External links:...
, MinoanMinoan civilizationThe Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
city on Mirambelo (Mirabello) Gulf. - Pyrgos, between MyrtosMyrtosMyrtos is a coastal village in the west of the municipality of Ierapetra, in the prefecture of Lasithi on the island of Crete in Greece. It is located from Ierapetra, the most southern town of Europe and from Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Viannos...
and Nea Myrtos. - VasilikiVasiliki, LasithiVasiliki is the name of a village in the municipality of Ierapetra, in the prefecture of Lasithi, on Crete, and the name of the nearby Minoan archeological site. The site took its name from the village.-Geography:...
, near the village of the same name. - Makry GialosMakry GialosMakry Gialos is a former municipality in Lasithi, Crete, Greece, with a population 4,204 in 2001. It is located on the south-east coast of Crete. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ierapetra, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was in...
minoan site
Ierapetra in popular culture
- In the 1964 movie Zorba the GreekZorba the GreekZorba the Greek is a 1964 film based on the novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. The film was directed by Cypriot Michael Cacoyannis and the title character was played by Anthony Quinn...
the famous scene in which Anthony QuinnAnthony QuinnAntonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
dances the SirtakiSirtakiSirtaki or syrtaki is a popular dance of Greek origin, choreographed, by Giorgos Provias for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek. It is not a traditional Greek folkdance, but a mixture of the slow and fast versions of the hasapiko dance...
on the beach was shot on Ierapetra Beach. - In the 1994 movie, 'Legends of the Fall', Tristan Ludlow (Brad Pitt) returning from a long journey, gifts a ring from Ierapetra to his future wife, Isabelle 2.
- In two of his books R. Graves refers the name of Ierapetra. In "King Jesus" and in the "Hercules, my shipmate"
- Luis Sepulveda also mention the Ierapetra in the introduction of his book "Mundo del fin del mundo" (The World at the End of the World)