Πέμπτη 28 Φεβρουαρίου 2008
PREFECTURE OF LASSITHI Agios Nikolaos the capital
The Prefecture of Lassithi covers the Eastern part of Crete; its extent is 1822 square kilometers , the coast line 400 kilometers approximately, and it counts circa 77 .000 permanent residents. It is washed by the Cretan Sea at the North, by the Carpathian Sea at the East and by the Libyan sea at the South, whereas at the West it borders the Heraklion prefecture. It is divided in 4 provinces: Ierapetras, Lassithiou, Mirambelou and Sitias. Aghios Nicolaos is the capital city of the prefecture. The coastal partition is deep, with several bays and small coves, capes and peninsulas. The western part of the inland is covered by the Mont Dikti, of a height of 2.148 meters, the place where, according to Mythology, had been born Zeus, the king of gods. No considerable rivers are found in the prefecture’s territory, only several small torrents. It has a Mediterranean climate, very favorable for cultivation. Vineyards, olive trees, industrial and cattle breeding plants, citrus trees and wheat are the main agricultural products cultivated in the area. People are also occupied with fishing and cattle breeding, whereas the recent decades a good deal of the income comes from tourism.
Click on any image to enlarge
As it occurs with the rest of Crete, visiting the villages of the inland is a fascinating experience. Both the natural environment and the character of all these villages make the visitor conceive the kind of beauty they have. Many of them are not affected by tourism, they maintain their traditional features in what concerns the architecture, and their residents proudly maintain a traditional way of life, full of consistence, insistence and dignity. You think that those features emerge from the earth, that it is the place itself bearing them. As in the whole island, both for the landscape and for their character: It is in those villages that the visitor can understand the special characteristics of the Cretan people, experience the hospitality and taste and smell the spirit of the area. Moreover, in the villages of the prefecture, the visitor can attend a wide range of cultural activities, where tradition is blended with everyday life, forming the actual face of culture, the modern face of Crete.
Going from one village to another by car, motorbike, or sometimes on foot is, in most cases, one of the attractions of the place. The secondary roads, often difficult, dirt tracks, leading to them pass through sites extremely scenic and beautiful, and driving, or even walking there, is an unforgettable experience.
Lassithi prefecture has coasts at the North, in the Aegean Sea, at the South, in the Libyan Sea and at the East, in the Carpathian Sea (Aegean). Most of the beaches are sandy, some of them well protected from the winds as they are found within small, protected coves. Swimming starts earlier in the South, where the weather is a bit warmer than in the North.
The natural environment is partly mild and partly wilder; however, you will never find here the wild landscape of Psiloritis or of the Lefka Ori. Extended areas of the inland are dedicated to agriculture and the visitor will come across extended enough fields with vegetables, olive trees plantation and vineyards. Vegetables are also cultivated during winter in greenhouses situated all around at the plain. However, as the mountains are not absent, there are magnificent places there too; small gorges, caves, narrow roads leading to intact, remote, traditional villages.
The territory of the prefecture is crossed, from Southwest to Northeast, by the last part of the European path E4, which passes through the whole of Europe and Greece and ends up at Crete; in the island the path starts from Kissamos (Kastelli) and ends up at Siteia in the Eastern part. Lassithi is a pretty wealthy place. Along with the traditional agricultural and cattle breeding activities, which used to be the main occupations of the locals in the past, trade and tourism, as well as other services are today one of the main economic resources. The area attracts a lot of visitors all year round, both Greeks, for business or vacation, and from abroad.
As in the rest of Crete, the history of the area starts as early as the Neolithic times. As excavations, quite extended in the 20 th century, in various sites have shown, not only had it flourished during the Minoan period, but, in fact, it was one of the most important centers of this great civilisation. During the Venetian domination of the island, the role of the area was not as important as Heraklion; however, it seems to have attracted the attention of the Venetian dominants, as it can be suggested from the number of castles and forts, preserved in the territory of the prefecture.
During the Ottoman domination the area participated to all the revolts and revolutions of the island, as the independent character of the people and their fervent desire to live in a free country could not be compatible with being under the yoke of any foreigner. During the World War II, following this long tradition, the people had strongly resisted to the German occupation and the Italians who followed them, although the place was not a main target for the Germans as Chania or Heraklion.
Click on any image to enlarge
As it occurs with the rest of Crete, visiting the villages of the inland is a fascinating experience. Both the natural environment and the character of all these villages make the visitor conceive the kind of beauty they have. Many of them are not affected by tourism, they maintain their traditional features in what concerns the architecture, and their residents proudly maintain a traditional way of life, full of consistence, insistence and dignity. You think that those features emerge from the earth, that it is the place itself bearing them. As in the whole island, both for the landscape and for their character: It is in those villages that the visitor can understand the special characteristics of the Cretan people, experience the hospitality and taste and smell the spirit of the area. Moreover, in the villages of the prefecture, the visitor can attend a wide range of cultural activities, where tradition is blended with everyday life, forming the actual face of culture, the modern face of Crete.
Going from one village to another by car, motorbike, or sometimes on foot is, in most cases, one of the attractions of the place. The secondary roads, often difficult, dirt tracks, leading to them pass through sites extremely scenic and beautiful, and driving, or even walking there, is an unforgettable experience.
Lassithi prefecture has coasts at the North, in the Aegean Sea, at the South, in the Libyan Sea and at the East, in the Carpathian Sea (Aegean). Most of the beaches are sandy, some of them well protected from the winds as they are found within small, protected coves. Swimming starts earlier in the South, where the weather is a bit warmer than in the North.
The natural environment is partly mild and partly wilder; however, you will never find here the wild landscape of Psiloritis or of the Lefka Ori. Extended areas of the inland are dedicated to agriculture and the visitor will come across extended enough fields with vegetables, olive trees plantation and vineyards. Vegetables are also cultivated during winter in greenhouses situated all around at the plain. However, as the mountains are not absent, there are magnificent places there too; small gorges, caves, narrow roads leading to intact, remote, traditional villages.
The territory of the prefecture is crossed, from Southwest to Northeast, by the last part of the European path E4, which passes through the whole of Europe and Greece and ends up at Crete; in the island the path starts from Kissamos (Kastelli) and ends up at Siteia in the Eastern part. Lassithi is a pretty wealthy place. Along with the traditional agricultural and cattle breeding activities, which used to be the main occupations of the locals in the past, trade and tourism, as well as other services are today one of the main economic resources. The area attracts a lot of visitors all year round, both Greeks, for business or vacation, and from abroad.
As in the rest of Crete, the history of the area starts as early as the Neolithic times. As excavations, quite extended in the 20 th century, in various sites have shown, not only had it flourished during the Minoan period, but, in fact, it was one of the most important centers of this great civilisation. During the Venetian domination of the island, the role of the area was not as important as Heraklion; however, it seems to have attracted the attention of the Venetian dominants, as it can be suggested from the number of castles and forts, preserved in the territory of the prefecture.
During the Ottoman domination the area participated to all the revolts and revolutions of the island, as the independent character of the people and their fervent desire to live in a free country could not be compatible with being under the yoke of any foreigner. During the World War II, following this long tradition, the people had strongly resisted to the German occupation and the Italians who followed them, although the place was not a main target for the Germans as Chania or Heraklion.
Ammoudara Beach of Agios Nikolaos Crete
Ammoudara beach is awarded with the Blue Flag
The beautiful sandy beach of Ammoudara (the name means in Greek “large sandy beach”) is situated at a distance of 5 kilometers Southern to Aghios Nicolaos, on the main road leading to Sitia and Ierapetra. The beach is protected from the winds blowing in the area.
It is one of the most popular beaches of the area as a result it has been very well organized, offering a wide range of accommodation in hotels, studios and rooms to let and several restaurants, taverns, bars and cafes for food, drink and amusement. Facilities for swimming, sunbathing (sunbeds, umbrellas etc), and sea sports are also available. Access from Aghios Nicolaos is possible by public bus, running very frequently, by taxi and by rented or private car and motorbikes.
It is one of the most popular beaches of the area as a result it has been very well organized, offering a wide range of accommodation in hotels, studios and rooms to let and several restaurants, taverns, bars and cafes for food, drink and amusement. Facilities for swimming, sunbathing (sunbeds, umbrellas etc), and sea sports are also available. Access from Aghios Nicolaos is possible by public bus, running very frequently, by taxi and by rented or private car and motorbikes.
BLUE FLAG
Blue Flag Status
A beach with a blue flag means:-
A beach with crystal-clear waters-
Good organization and safety-
An environmentally - friendly place
The "Blue Flag" is the international symbol of quality of a well organized beach.
The "Blue Flags Program" is a Program for Environmental Sensitivity and Protection of The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that occurs every year on a grand scale in over 35 countries in Europe and other places around the world.
In Greece, the representative for the program is the Greek Environmental Society for Nature Protection, the oldest environmental organization in our country that has been active in environmental education and the protection of nature since 1951.The awarding of Blue Flag status to a beach is no easy task. The beach must fulfill 27 strict criteria in relation to the cleanliness of the sea and the beach itself, the organization of the beach and the safety of its visitors, the protection of nature and the environment.For a marina there are 22 criteria.The municipality of Agios Nikolaos has had to this day, the largest number of awarded beaches in the region, and for the first time this year (2004), the marina was also awarded the Blue Flag.The managing organizations of the awarded beaches and marinas are the Public Enterprise for Tourism Development of Agios Nikolaos (DETADAN), the Community of Elounda for Tourist Development (KEPANEL), the Public Enterprise of the Marina Agios Nikolaos (DEPAMAN) and also the many excellent hotels in our area.
Τρίτη 26 Φεβρουαρίου 2008
"Marianthi Apartments" - Ammoudara
Marianthi Apartments Ammoudara Agios Nikolaos CreteTo contact us via Email, use info@cretanview.com and we will respond promptly or phone you back, if requested.
Agios Nikolaos A walk around
The Place
Agios Nikolaos, with 9.500 inhabitants, is the capital of the Lassithi province of Crete. It is built around a picturesque lake at the north-western side of the Merabello bay, the biggest bay in Crete. The beauty here is endless with the seasons succeeding one another. The climate is unique: Dry, without humidity. The area is inhabited since antiquity.
Agios Nikolaos Today
Major administrative, cultural and communications center, Agios Nikolaos is one of the most developed tourist areas, not only in Crete but in Greece in general.
Thanks to the beautiful coasts, the great sights and the cosmopolitan life, this live city hosts every year thousands of visitors without losing one bit of its tranquillity and traditional hospitality. The modern city of Agios Nikolaos became indernationally well-known during the 60's, "discovered" by famous cinema directors (Jules Dassin, Walt Disney etc.), BBC producers and many others. It was then, that the rapid tourist development of the area started. Today, Agios Nikolaos is an international, cosmopolitan tourist resort, able to accommodate, effectively and efficiently, thousands of visitors each year.
A walk around
The shopping area of Agios Nikolaos is always a pleasure. You can find everything! There are many tourist shops, full of excellent articles of traditional Cretan art, minoan copies and copies from the Popular Art museum, etc. One can also visit fine art galleries and woven handicrafts, jewellery shops, international bookstores, kiosks with greek and foreign press, cafeterias as well as traditional coffee shops, tavernas and restaurants with an inexhaustible assortment of snacks and specialities of greek and Cretan cooking, accompanied with all sorts of wines or the local strong "raki". At night, there are countless chances for fun at the numerous night clubs and discos, or at selected clubs with traditional Cretan dances, songs and mandinades or the latest hits of the greek and international charts.
Agios Nikolaos in Crete
Agios Nikolaos
The capital of Lassithi prefecture since 1904, Agios Nikolaos is a picturesque town in the eastern part of the island built on the northwest side of the peaceful bay of Mirabello. It is named after the charming 7th century Byzantine chapel of St.Nikolas, erected on the spot called "Nissi" during the 7th AD century, with its bell tower, drum and dome. The chapel has a number of well-preserved frescoes of the 19th, 10th and 11th centuries and rewards its visitors with a breathtaking view of the town and bay.
The name Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas who is the patron saint of sailors and of all of Greece. Agios, as it is referred to by all the islanders, retains a traditional, quaint and tranquil fishing town lifestyle which hasn't lost its charm with its busy tourist infrastructure. The small, especially well attended port of Agios Nikolaos, has its own charm, as it is surrounded by the picturesque tile-roofed houses and it is illuminated in the evenings by the lights of the shops and those of the "kaikis", fishing boats moored at the big dock. This is their starting point of their day trips to Spinalonga, Elounda and the picturesque Mirabello Bay.
Agios Nikolaos is accessible from the mainland and the whole of Europe through Nikos Kazantzakis airport in Heraklio and many daily ferry services in Heraklion Port. Two ships directly connect Agios Nikolaos daily with the ports of Piraeus, Sitia and Aegen islands of Milos, Santorini, Karpathos, Kassos, Kos, and Rhodes.
Εγγραφή σε:
Αναρτήσεις (Atom)
