Neapoli, Crete
Encyclopedia
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 mountainous and home to a collection of native olive trees. Neapoli is a traditional Cretan town with narrow streets and cobbled roads. The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (Megali Panagia) is located on the central square.
There are also many almond trees. A traditional local product of Neapoli is a drink, made from almonds, called Soumada
(also spelt Soumatha). It is a very sweet almond-flavored, non-alcoholic, soft drink that can also be delicately flavored with flowers (providing variations of the aroma and the flavor).
, goats, and xylophagidae
(known more commonly in Greece as Tzitzikia), one can occasionally see eagle
s, hummingbirds, and scorpions. The scorpions are usually hiding under rocks.
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...
peripheral unit, 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...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality 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...
, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located 12 km west from 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 surrounding area is mountainous and home to a collection of native olive trees. Neapoli is a traditional Cretan town with narrow streets and cobbled roads. The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (Megali Panagia) is located on the central square.
Annual Festival
Annually on the 15th of August there is a holy festival dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The main square hosts musicians, traditional dancers, and a market. There are also some sports events including a cycling race around the hills of Lasithi. When it gets dark there is a procession of torches up the mountainside.Museum of Local History
There is a small museum of local history comprising mostly photographs and postcards of Neapolis.Local Produce
The town is surrounded by olive trees. Olives and olive oil are a very important part of the local agricultural economy.There are also many almond trees. A traditional local product of Neapoli is a drink, made from almonds, called Soumada
Soumada
Soumada, also spelled Soumatha is a popularly-consumed non-alcoholic soft-drink in Greece that is made from almonds. It can also be delicately flavored with flowers ....
(also spelt Soumatha). It is a very sweet almond-flavored, non-alcoholic, soft drink that can also be delicately flavored with flowers (providing variations of the aroma and the flavor).
Local Wildlife
Whilst walking around the hills surrounding Neapoli, apart from the usual tortoises, hareHare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
, goats, and xylophagidae
Xylophagidae
The Brachyceran infraorder Xylophagomorpha is a small group that consists solely of the family Xylophagidae, which presently contains subfamilies that were sometimes considered to be two small related families...
(known more commonly in Greece as Tzitzikia), one can occasionally see eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
s, hummingbirds, and scorpions. The scorpions are usually hiding under rocks.