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 Sitia is a harbour town with 8500 inhabitants
which can be used as a base for a visit to the eastern end of Crete. It is maintained that ancient Itia, homeland of Mysonas, one of the seven wise men of antiquity, was on the site of present-day Sitia. Regardless, Sitia has been inhabited since the Minoan period. At Petra, to the east of the town, a section of a settlement from the Minoan period has been excavated. This was evidently one of the largest harbours in Crete in the New Palace period. A large central building (perhaps a palace?) has been revealed, storage areas and Linear A inscriptions. Unique in Crete is the "Cyclopean" wall at the foot of the hill. It developed significantly during the Venetian occupation when the town was powerfully fortified with walls and towers. Nevertheless first earthquakes, then the attacks of the Turks and finally its capture by them turned it into a heap of ruins and its inhabitants deserted it. Only during the 19th century was it rebuilt, and became the capital of the province.  It has a good number of hotels, pensions and houses with rooms for rent, as well as a youth hostel. It has a regular bus service to all eastern Crete and acquired an airport in 1984. For the present it is connected by air to the islands of Karpathos, Kassos and Rhodos and to Piraeus by ship, three times a week, via Agios Nikolaos and Milos. Useful information can be obtained from the Tourist Police and the Public Relations Office of the Municipality. During the summer, cultural events take place in the theatre which operates in the town's restored Venetian government house. |
