Palaikastro is a small village at the east end of the mediterranean island Crete in a distance of 18km from SItia. It stands on historical soil. The village has a population of 1300 people and remains exempted from the mass tourism. In a close distance you can enjoy the beautiful and unspoiled seas of eastern Crete. People in the area cultivate olives and wine and there a few fisherman remain. Commercial fishing however is hard these days due to the substantial over fishing of the Mediterranean Sea. Tourism is supplementary income and it probably will remain so. At the east edge of the village visible from far away there’s the flat hill called Kastri(s). This mountain gave Palekastro its name in the Middle Ages when the region was dominated by the sovereign power of Venice. On the flat summit they had established a fortress. In the course of the centuries the stones were cleared away and used by the people of the region to build houses. Take a walk up there (app. 30 minutes from Chiona or Kouremenos) and enjoy a unique view over the village, the beaches and the mountains. Best time: early morning or late afternoon.
Having as base Palaikastro you can make excursions to fantastic beaches, nearby traditional Greek villages and exotic landscapes. You can visit archeological places and archaeological and cultural museums, monuments, religious sites, Byzantine period temples and paths of great historical importance., You can also attend beautiful traditional festivals and events and have fun in many centers of modern Games. You can mix with the local people through cultural events during the summer months. Do not forget to visit:
- The ancient ruins of the city Itanos
- The monastery of Toplou
- Gorge of the Dead
- The Minoan palace of Kato Zakros, comparable to that of Knossos
- The cave in Pelekita
- The palm forest of Vai
You can also:
- Have windsurfing lessons at the local surfing school
- To rent a Jet Ski and water sports on the Vai beach
- Lean about the Mountaineering Club of Sitia
The palm beach of Vai is one of the largest attractions of the Mediterranean island of Crete.
Ermoupoli , also known with by formal older name Ermoupolis or Hermoupolis, is the capital and main city of the island of Syros and the Cyclades prefecture in Greece.
At the east edge of the village visible from far away there’s the flat hill called Kastri(s). This mountain gave Palekastro its name in the Middle Ages when the region was dominated by the sovereign power of Venice.