Island of Crete

SITIA

Sitia is the most eastern harbour in Crete. It is easily seen from the west after you round Akrotiri Vamvakia. The Venetian fort above the harbour is very apparent from the west also. There is a lighthouse on the Akotiri that is very visible during the day. The buildings along the waterfront and of the town are also apparent from the sea.
Sitia has good shopping for all provisions. There is water on the quay and fuel refill may be arranged. Minor repairs can be done in Sitia. There are Port Police and Custom Officials but no Immigration as Sitia is not a Port of Entry. Sitia has a General Hospital as well as private doctors, dentists, and pharmacies. There are banks, and telecommunication facilities and post offices with full services. There are also bus connections with Agios Nikolaos, Iraklion and Ierapetra and car rental agencies. The town of Sitia has many hotels and tavernas.
The stern-to bow-to mooring in the harbour provide good protection from all winds. The harbour entrance is lit by a flashing green light on the right and a flashing red one on the left.

Where to go? What to visit?

The Harbour
Sitia is the most eastern harbour in Crete. It is easily seen from the west after you round Akrotiri Vamvakia. The Venetian fort above the harbour is very apparent from the west also. There is a lighthouse on the Akotiri that is very visible during the day. The buildings along the waterfront and of the town are also apparent from the sea.
Sitia has good shopping for all provisions. There is water on the quay and fuel refill may be arranged. Minor repairs can be done in Sitia. There are Port Police and Custom Officials but no Immigration as Sitia is not a Port of Entry. Sitia has a General Hospital as well as private doctors, dentists, and pharmacies. There are banks, and telecommunication facilities and post offices with full services. There are also bus connections with Agios Nikolaos, Iraklion and Ierapetra and car rental agencies. The town of Sitia has many hotels and tavernas.
The stern-to bow-to mooring in the harbour provide good protection from all winds. The harbour entrance is lit by a flashing green light on the right and a flashing red one on the left.
The harbour is the best in the eastern part of the island and can accommodate small fishing boats and larger cargo and transport boats as well. The weekly boats for Rhodes leave from here. Around the harbour there are many restaurants and tavernas as well as coffee shops.

Venetian Fort
There were fortifying walls around the city of Sitia from the Byzantine period. These fortifications were restored by the Genoese and by the Venetians but were never very strong. In 1539, the pirate Barbarosa conquered the city and levelled the forts and the town. When the Turks invaded the island the Venetians destroyed the fort so that it would not fall into the hands of Turks. The ruins of a Venetian castle are still visible today. A tower of three storeys has survived. North of the fort there is a little chapel built from the ruins of a Venetian monastery destroyed by the Turks.

Archaeological Museum
The third largest Archaeological Museum in Crete has been in Sitia since 1984. The museum's founder is the eminent Cretan archaeologist, Nikos Papadakis. On display are finds from an extensive area around Sitia, as well as many from the palace at Zakros. The museum's collection reveals the evident prosperity and culture of the ancient city and includes a unique collection of rare clay tablets with texts in Linear A from Zakros. An impressive group of vases from a shipwreck which occurred during Roman times is displayed in a tank of salinated water for conservation purposes.
The museum is housed in a large room built around a courtyard. At the entrance there is a display showing the recent archaeological sites and the digging process.

Finds from Minoan Tombs
In the two central cases opposite there are two noteworthy finds--a stone lamp and a wreathed bull from the Old and New Palace Period Minoan tombs on Mochlos. Also in these cases are finds from the island of Psira. The most outstanding is the Marine-style stirrup jar.

Finds from Peak Sanctuaries
The next case has a collection of votive figures from the peak sanctuaries especially from Petsofas above Palaikastro.

Objects from the Palace of Zakros
Next on display is the Late Minoan wine press from the Minoan villa in Zakros.

The next cases display articles found in the palace of Zakros including a bronze saw and large pots displaying signs of the intense fire that destroyed the palace. Also on display are articles common to Minoan palaces that indicate their economic function; these include clay tablets with Linear A (records) and large pithari (storage). In addition, the display from the palace of Zakros shows the domestic side of the palace with a variety of cooking and eating utensils. The articles for the cult practices are also displayed and include the horns of consecration, double axes, and kernoi (round tables used for offerings).

Minoan Finds
Next, in the cases along the wall, are finds from Old and New Palace Period Minoan sites, such as Palaikastro. They include bronze objects, stone horns of consecration, and a four- cupped vase. Also along the wall is a case with Postpalatial pottery found in the Sitia area.

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