Lasithi
Encyclopedia
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. The Sea of Crete
lies to the north and the Libyan Sea
to the south.
To the east of the village of Elounda
lies the island of Spinalonga
, formerly a Venetian
fortress and a leper colony
. On the foot of Mount Dikti lies the Lasithi Plateau, famous for its windmill
s. Vai
is well-known for its datepalm forest.
Thanks to stunning beaches and its mild climate year-long, Lasithi attracts many tourists. Mass tourism is served by places like Vai, Agios Nikolaos and the island of Chrissi. More off-beat tourism can be found in villages on the south coast like Myrtos
, Makrys Gialos or Makrigialos, Xerokambos and Koutsouras
.
Lasithi is home to a number of ancient remains. Vasiliki
, Fournou Korifi
, Pyrgos, Zakros
and Gournia
are ruins of Minoan
date, Lato
and Itanos
were Doric towns.
and Lato
.
of Lasithi , which was created while Crete was still an autonomous state
and was retained after the island joined Greece in 1913. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit, except Viannos area that belonged to Lasithi but was annexed to Heraklion perfecture in 1932. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
:
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...
, to the east of Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos
Agios 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...
, the other major towns being Ierapetra
Ierapetra
Ierapetra is a town in the southeast of the Greek island of Crete and a municipality of Crete region.-History:The town of Ierapetra is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios Nikolaos and southwest of Sitia and is an important regional...
, 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 Neapoli
Neapoli, Crete
Neapoli is a small town and a former municipality in the Lasithi peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agios Nikolaos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located 12 km west from Agios Nikolaos. The surrounding area is...
. The mountains include the Dikte to the west and the Sitia Mountains
Sitia Mountains
The Sitia Mountains are a mountain range in the east of Lasithi Prefecture in eastern Crete in Greece. The mountains descend to cultivated plains and old villages and then down to a coastline of small fishing villages and sandy beaches....
to the east. The Sea of Crete
Sea of Crete
thumb|300px|Map of the Sea of CreteThe Sea of Crete is the sea south of the Aegean Sea, north of the island Crete, and south of the Cyclades. The sea also stretches from Kythera east to the Dodecanese islands of Karpathos and Kassos. The bounding seas to the west are the Ionian Sea as well as...
lies to the north and the Libyan Sea
Libyan Sea
The Libyan Sea is the portion of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the African coast of ancient Libya, i.e. Cyrenaica and Marmarica...
to the south.
To the east of the village of Elounda
Elounda
Elounda , alternative transliterations Elounta or Elouda, is a small fishing town on the northern coast of the island of Crete, Greece...
lies the island of Spinalonga
Spinalonga
The island of Spinalonga , officially known as Kalydon , is located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete, in Lasithi prefecture, next to the town of Elounda....
, formerly a Venetian
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...
fortress and a leper colony
Leper colony
A leper colony, leprosarium, or lazar house is a place to quarantine leprous people.-History:Leper colonies or houses became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, and often run by monastic orders...
. On the foot of Mount Dikti lies the Lasithi Plateau, famous for its windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
s. Vai
Vai (Crete)
The palm beach of Vai is one of the largest attractions of the Mediterranean island of Crete. It features the largest natural palm forest in Europe, made up of Cretan Date Palm ....
is well-known for its datepalm forest.
Thanks to stunning beaches and its mild climate year-long, Lasithi attracts many tourists. Mass tourism is served by places like Vai, Agios Nikolaos and the island of Chrissi. More off-beat tourism can be found in villages on the south coast like 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...
, Makrys Gialos or Makrigialos, Xerokambos and Koutsouras
Koutsouras
Koutsouras is a village in Lasithi prefecture, in Crete, Greece 22 kilometers east of Ierapetra. Its population is 818 It was the headquarters of the municipality of Makry Gialos and is the biggest village in the region. Key industries include agriculture and tourism...
.
Lasithi is home to a number of ancient remains. Vasiliki
Vasiliki
- People :*Vassiliki Arvaniti, Greek beach volleyball player*Vasso Karantasiou, Greek female beach volley player*Vasiliki Maliaros, Greek actress- Other :*Vasiliki, Lasithi, a village and an archaeological site in Lasithi prefecture, Crete, Greece...
, Fournou Korifi
Fournou Korifi
Fournou Korifi is the archaeological site of a Minoan settlement on southern Crete.-Geography:Fournou Korifi was built at the top of a steep hill, with excellent views of the coast.-Archaeology:Fournou Korifi was first excavated in 1967 by Peter Warren....
, Pyrgos, Zakros
Zakros
Zakros is a site on the eastern coast of the island of Crete, Greece, containing ruins from the Minoan civilization. The site is often known to archaeologists as Zakro or Kato Zakro...
and Gournia
Gournia
Gournia 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:...
are ruins of 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...
date, 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...
and Itanos
Itanos
Itanos is a former municipality in the Lasithi peripheral unit, eastern Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Siteia, of which it is a municipal unit. Its territory is rich in ancient archaeological sites, notably a Minoan city in Roussolakkos and the...
were Doric towns.
History
The history of Lasithi can be traced over at least three millennia. The region has considerable ancient history antecedents, including the Dorian era settlement of OlousOlous
Olous or Olus is an ancient, sunken city situated at the present day town of Elounda, Crete, Greece.-History:After continuing boundary disputes with the hillfort of Lato, the citizens of Olous eventually entered into a treaty with those of Lato...
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...
.
Administration
The regional unit Lasithi is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):- Agios NikolaosAgios Nikolaos, CreteAgios 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...
(1) - IerapetraIerapetraIerapetra is a town in the southeast of the Greek island of Crete and a municipality of Crete region.-History:The town of Ierapetra is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios Nikolaos and southwest of Sitia and is an important regional...
(2) - Oropedio LasithiouOropedio LasithiouOropedio Lasithiou or Lasithi Plateau is a large scenic plain, and a municipality, located in the Lasithi peripheral unit in eastern Crete, Greece...
(3) - Siteia (4)
Prefecture
As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Lasithi was created out of the former prefecturePrefectures of Greece
During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and then again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures were the country's main administrative unit...
of Lasithi , which was created while Crete was still an autonomous state
Cretan State
The Cretan State was established in 1898, following the intervention by the Great Powers on the island of Crete. In 1897 an insurrection in Crete led the Ottoman Empire to declare war on Greece, which led the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Russia to intervene on the grounds that the Ottoman...
and was retained after the island joined Greece in 1913. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit, except Viannos area that belonged to Lasithi but was annexed to Heraklion perfecture in 1932. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Agios Nikolaos Agios 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... |
Agios Nikolaos Agios 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... |
Agios Nikolaos |
| Vrachasi Vrachasi Vrachasi is a village and a former municipality in the Lasithi peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agios Nikolaos, of which it is a municipal unit. Vrachasi is a village of a few hundred people and typical of many around, but it has... |
||
| Neapoli Neapoli, Crete Neapoli is a small town and a former municipality in the Lasithi peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agios Nikolaos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located 12 km west from Agios Nikolaos. The surrounding area is... |
||
| Ierapetra Ierapetra Ierapetra is a town in the southeast of the Greek island of Crete and a municipality of Crete region.-History:The town of Ierapetra is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios Nikolaos and southwest of Sitia and is an important regional... |
Ierapetra Ierapetra Ierapetra is a town in the southeast of the Greek island of Crete and a municipality of Crete region.-History:The town of Ierapetra is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios Nikolaos and southwest of Sitia and is an important regional... |
Ierapetra |
| 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... |
||
| Oropedio Lasithiou Oropedio Lasithiou Oropedio Lasithiou or Lasithi Plateau is a large scenic plain, and a municipality, located in the Lasithi peripheral unit in eastern Crete, Greece... |
Oropedio Lasithiou Oropedio Lasithiou Oropedio Lasithiou or Lasithi Plateau is a large scenic plain, and a municipality, located in the Lasithi peripheral unit in eastern Crete, Greece... |
Tzermiado |
| Siteia | Siteia 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... |
Siteia |
| Itanos Itanos Itanos is a former municipality in the Lasithi peripheral unit, eastern Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Siteia, of which it is a municipal unit. Its territory is rich in ancient archaeological sites, notably a Minoan city in Roussolakkos and the... |
||
| Lefki Lefki, Lasithi Lefki is a former municipality in the Lasithi peripheral unit, eastern Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Siteia, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,117 . The seat of the municipality was in Ziros.... |
Provinces
Before 2006, Lasithi was divided into 4 provincesProvinces of Greece
The provinces of Greece were sub-divisions of some the country's prefectures. From 1887, the provinces were abolished as actual administrative units, but were retained for some state services, especially finance services and education, as well as for electoral purposes...
:
- Province of Mirambelos - Neapolis
- Province of LasithiLasithi ProvinceLasithi Province was one of the 4 provinces in Lasithi Prefecture. It was abolished in 2006.-References:* http://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Επαρχίες_της_Ελλάδας...
- Tzermiado - Province of IerapetraIerapetraIerapetra is a town in the southeast of the Greek island of Crete and a municipality of Crete region.-History:The town of Ierapetra is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios Nikolaos and southwest of Sitia and is an important regional...
- Ierapetra - Province of SitiaSitiaSitia 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...
- Sitia
Transport
- GR-90Greek National Road 90Greek National Road 90 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Kissamos, Chania, Rethymnon, Heraclion, Aghios Nikolaos and Sitia....
/E65European route E65European route E 65 is a north-south Class-A European route that begins in Malmö, Sweden and ends in Chaniá, Greece. The road is about in length.-Itinerary:* Sweden** E 65: Malmö – Ystad* Baltic sea, ferry Ystad-Świnoujście* Poland...
, NW, Cen., E, NE - GR-99Greek National Road 99Greek National Road 99 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Heraklio with Greek National Road 97 about west of Timbaki....
, Cen., S