Antiquities

A trip to Sitia is a pilgrimage to the sources of European culture! The Minoan Civilization, as we know, is the first high-level civilization in the European area. Here in Eastern Crete, in Zakros, Palaikastro, Petra, Mochlos and Psira, are the first centers and the first ports of the Minoan Civilization and fascinating and very ancient myths are mentioned.

Zeus the king of the gods, according to legend, transformed into a shining bull grabbed the beautiful daughter of the Phoenician King, Europa. He put her on his back and swimming brought her to Crete. Somewhere here on a beautiful beach in Palaikastro and Vai laid her down on Earth to rest and then they continued their journey to Dikteo Andros and Gortyna.

The extremely rich and brilliant past of the area is evidenced by the many large archaeological excavations and historical researches that have been and are being carried out by Greeks and foreigners over the last 100 years or more in the area of Sitia District.

Actually, the Province of Sitia is one of the proportionally oldest regions of Greece and the whole world, having more than 80 archaeological sites.