Palekastro | East Crete Travel Guide

Vrisidi

The relatively new name of this village, which is certainly connected with the word vrisi: fountain or spring. Has still not been accepted by the local prefer to use the old name Magasas, the etymology of which is uncertain perhaps…

Chohlakies or Karoumes Gorge

The Chochlakies or Karoumes Gorge lies in the far east of the island, 8 kms southern from Palekastro on the way to Zakros and gets across the village of Chochlakies to the beautiful Bay and beach of Karoumes. The gorge…

Adravasti Gorge

It is the most unknown gorge of Palekastro - Zakros region. Its exit is just 1 km north from Adravasti village or 3 kms away from Zakros. There are two ways to cross it. The one is from Karidi village and…

Sitanos

Sitanos (620m above see level) situated not far from Karidi and it is believed that the name is connected with that of Itanos. The tradition is that the people of Itanos, scattered and homeless after earthquakes and pirate raids during…

Katelionas

Nothing remains for the visitor to see today, except piles of ruins, of this once flourishing village situated between Handras and Sitanos. In 1583 census for the Venetians is mentioned as Cattegliona of Sitia with 428 (!!) inhabitants. The population…

Karidi

This village, about 25 km from Sitia, 23 km from Palekastro and 600m above see level, is reached either by a road that passes through various mountain hamlets (Metochia Piskokefalou) or by a new road that branches off the road…

Palekastro Archaeological Site

At the northernmost edge of the eastern coast of Crete lie the ruins of a settlement which flourished during the Late Minoan period (1550-1220 B.C.). At the same site, however, are preserved remains of the Early and Middle Minoan periods…

Toplou Gorge

Its entrance is about 200m in the west of the Monastery of Toplou. The landscape is astonishing not only because of its flora and the existence of a cluster of the palm tree Theophrastos Phoenix theophrasti, clusters of locust Ceratonia siliqua, oleander…

Toplou Monastery, Sitia

Toplou Monastery (Greek: Μονή Τοπλού) is a 15th-century monastery located in a dry and barren area in the Lasithi regional unit, on the eastern part of the island of Crete in Greece. It is about 6 km (3.7 mi) north…

Palekastro – Petsofas – Skinias

Taking as a starting point Palekastro square, you walk east, through Agathias settlement and going further in a dust road among the olive trees. Avoiding to get lost on your way, it's better to pay great attention on the map…