Sitia

The castle fortress known today as “Kazarma” (Casa di arma), is the most imposing historical monument in Sitia. The Kazarma used to be a military and administrative centre which consisted of a Medieval dwelling surrounded by walls. The fortification of the town and of the Kazarma can be dated to the late Byzantine period.

However, pirate raids, the continual uprisings against the Venetian occupation by the local people and the great earthquake all led to the partial destruction of the fortifications until the Venetians themselves were forced to completely destroy them with the intention of rebuilding them. This never happened and in 1651 the town was razed and then occupied by the Turks.

During the Turkish occupation it would appear that the walls were never rebuilt but the Kazarma was restored and evidence of the Turkish extensions can be seen today, for example in the cupolas (“koubedes”) on the battlements that form the watch towers. The Kazarma has since been carefully restored and is open to the public offering a panoramic view across the bay of Sitia.

Concerts, plays, lectures and art exhibitions all take place in the Kazarma during the summer months as part of the festival known as “Kornaria”.

The seas of Sitia are garlanded with many beautiful islands large and small which host a wide variety of rare sea-life and flora. Every island is a tribute to a land blessed by the gods! The remains of a Minoan settlement have recently been excavated on the island of “Psira”, the island of “Elasa” to the east was where the Minoans first set foot on Crete, the Dionisades and Ianisades stand guard over the bay of Sitia and last but not least the island of Koufonisi is renowned for its long history of trading in porphyry. Apart from these larger islands, the seas abound with small rocky islands which are a winter home to a rare Mediterranean hawk – “Falco Eleonorae”.

Rich displays cover the periods 3500 B.C to 500 A.D. The oldest artefacts come from the wider region of Sitia. The museum is divided into five chronological parts and displays include a valuable collection of vases, clay tablets in Linear A script which were found in the archives at Zakros, figurines from peak sanctuaries, a wine press from the neo-palatial period and a Hellenistic wheat mill. Of special interest is the ivory and gold male figurine which was found in Roussolakkos near Palekastro.

The Folk Museum displays items from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It includes some unique embroidery, examples of traditional weaving, wood carvings, local dress and household items, all displayed in an authentic Sitian house setting. There is another Folklore Museum in the village of Hamezi, also in a traditional Cretan house as it was at the beginning of the 20th century, which includes a wine-press, olive-press and traditional irons.

Each historical era has left its sign in the soil of Sitia:

The Municipality of Sitia (or Siteia) is a jewel in the Mediterranean landscape. Its physiography and climate help in the development of a special flora and fauna, which attracts the visitor. In the section that follows, you may find general information about the beauty of the landscape.

Some of the sights (from 5 to 15 km far) :