Sitia. Journey into Antiquity

The town of Sitia, numbering nearly 8,000 residents, the easternmost city on Crete. Its history goes into the depth of ancient times, when the settlement was called Itijah and served as a port for the city Pressos. Its existence can we learn from letters of Diogenes Laertius (III century BC), who reported that here was born one of the great Greek sages-Meason Heneysky. The same author gives details to help you determine the size Itii in those days: he calls it a village, "boarded up". And today, Sitia kept modest size. Most part are old port and the marina. There is also a central area of ??the city. Here in the shade of palm trees, love to spend time men playing backgammon. In Sitia has two major buildings: ancient fish pools and the fortress barracks. This name comes from the Italian word "armory» (casa di agta), and although traces of its former prosperity destroyed while the fortress and today remains a major architectural landmark in the neighborhood. It seems that tourists are not yet discovered the full extent of those places that extend beyond Sitiey. One kilometer east of the town throughout the excavations, where scientists are trying to get out - under the ground Minoan city. Three kilometers further is the cemetery of the same epoch, are found more than 250 tombs. And behind them are the ruins of a village settlement time of King Minos. The road goes along the coast, through the deserted outskirts of the village and fields of sun-scorched land and leads to the monastery of fuels. His name he must a small cannon (Turkish Gore), by which the monks of frightened pirates or those who have encroached on their property. And there were many: the monastery was one of the richest in Crete. Monastery was built in the late XV century, and then repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. In 1530 the monastery was seized Knights of Malta, in 1612 it destroyed by an earthquake, and in 1646 and 1866, the Turks. Graffiti reminiscent of how closely intertwined in this place life and death, but the unusual icon send thoughts come to God. The main icon is stored in the monastery church and is called "Wonderful are thy works, O Lord." This work of Janis Kornaros made in 1770 and depicts scenes of the Epiphany.