Property On Crete

This lovely historic village (the word Achladia means Pear) is on the road from Sitia to Stavrochori enjoys many sea views across the valley. This village has always been well inhabited due its close proximity to Sitia. Many small but important houses have been renovated and preserved within the village and this has kept the traditional feel of the area. ..

This village belongs to the Itanos Municipality. The origin of the name is unknown, perhaps it is derived from a family name. It is not mentioned in the 1583 census, but it is believed to have been razed with other villages during Turkish pirate raids in 1471 AD and later re­established after the 16th. century. To the west of the settlement is the hill of Endichtis (560m) which was believed to have been the site of a peak sanctuary. Excavations in 1972 however proved that this could not have been so. Various things such as loom weights, a whetstone and clay spindle whorls were collected, but not one single figurine, which seems to exclude the possibility of this spot having been a shrine. So it must be regarded rather as a simple habitation.

Agathia is a small village of 200 inhabitants. It is located between Palekastro village and Chiona Beach. Its main feature is its old narrow streets and the traditional houses. Agathia has been a popular village for holiday homes for many years due to it's close proximity to the beaches, as a consequence properties rarely become available for sale in this village.

This village is set on the north coast, 4.5km east of Sitia. It has some excellent tavernas and kafenions, plus a supermarket and a selection of rooms, villas and apartments for rent. The entire village has a wide vista over the beautiful Bay of Sitia.

The outermost village of the Handras-Ziros plateau. It is situated about 35 km distant from Sitia and some 8 km inland from the coast of the Libyan Sea so that even though the village is not right on the coast the inhabitants are fishermen as well as farmers. The village is not mentioned in the Venetian census of 1583, not even under its old name which was "Tso".

This village, renamed in 1955, is located to the south from Sitia on the Sitia-Ierapetra road. To the same community belong also the hamlets of Pano Episkopi Drapani, Sotira and Vouvali. The origin of the old name is unknown. M. Katapotis believed it was a Turkish or possibly Albanian family name. In the 1583 Venetian census the village is listed as Turtulus with a population of 111, and at the same time Drapanus is mentioned with 39 inhabitants. Today Drapani, which is between Ayios Georgios and Sikia, is completely deserted.

Aghios Spiridonas or Agios Spiridon

This lovely little village was once called Kanene and is situated on the old road to the Ziros Plateau, just off the main north/south coast road from Sitia to Ierapetra.  The old road wanders across the river valley and passes The Mill of Figeto that is situated beside the river.  The road then continues on up the hillside on the opposite side and passes through Agios Spiridon and on to the old Minoan ruins at Praissos.

Aghios Stephanos or Agios Stefanos

This is one of several villages that is set above the coastal resort of Makrygialos ,on the South Coast and used to be called Gras. The village has undergone many changes over the last few years as the village has become very popular with Northern Europeans who have bought and renovated many of the old houses and now use then as holiday homes.

Analoukas

This is a small, almost deserted village on the main road from Sitia to Palekastro. A new section of the road to Palekastro is being built at this time and is due to be completed in 2010. The new road will by-pass the village making it more attractive in the future.