Chamaitoulo, a small, mountainous village in the Lasithi region of Crete, sits at 590 meters altitude near Ziros. Its few residents primarily raise livestock. The village contains the Agios Georgios church with a wood-carved iconostasis and an ancient water fountain. Neolithic settlement ruins lie 2 kilometers away. The population has dwindled over the years, from 22 in 1650 to just a handful today. It is 7 kilometers from Ziros and 34 kilometers from Sitia.
Chandras, a village in the Siteia municipality of Lasithi, Crete, sits at 580 meters above sea level on the Armenohandrades plateau. Likely founded during Arab rule, its name may derive from the Arabic word for "green". The village was recorded in a 1577 census as Ghandra and in a 1583 census as Candra with 403 inhabitants.
The old village center, "Mesochoria", houses the churches of Agios Dimitrios and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Remnants of an Ottoman hammam can be found there, along with a Renaissance fountain and Venetian-influenced buildings. A folklore museum is also present in the village. The church of Agios Haralambos, with its neoclassical bell tower, stands in the northern part of the settlement. Nearby, the abandoned medieval village of Voila preserves monuments from the Venetian and Ottoman periods.
Etia, located in the Armeni municipality in eastern Crete, is an uninhabited village with a rich history dating back to the Byzantine era. Known for its well-preserved Venetian mansion, the De Mezzo, Etia was once a major settlement. The village also features the churches of Agia Aikaterini and Agios Ioannis, both bearing traces of Byzantine wall paintings. The De Mezzo mansion, a significant example of Venetian architecture, has undergone extensive restoration. Etia, though deserted, remains a protected traditional settlement and a testament to Crete's diverse heritage.
Kato Episkopi, a village in Siteia, Lasithi, Crete, sits at 40 meters altitude. Historically significant, it contains a converted 11th-century bathhouse, now the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, likely a bishopric seat during the Second Byzantine period. Archaeological finds include vaulted tombs and a Roman building. The church's architecture features an octagonal dome and imitates ashlar masonry. The village has seen various populations, including Muslims and Christians, through Ottoman and later rule. Its history is documented through Ottoman surveys and censuses.
Kato Krya is a settlement located in the Lasithi regional unit on the island of Crete, Greece. It belongs to the Municipality of Siteia and is 12.6 kilometers away from the town Siteia and 5.6 kilometers away from Lithines
Maronia, a historic village in eastern Crete's Sitia municipality, boasts a rich past. Near the village are remains of a Minoan settlement and carved tombs. The village, mentioned in Venetian records as "Marunea" in 1583, is believed to be named after a settler from Thrace. Notable sites include the churches of Agia Triada and the Dormition of the Theotokos, the caves of Spiliara and Agionero, an Ottoman fountain, and a historic olive mill. Maronia is also the birthplace of Cretan revolutionary Captain Sifis Dermitzakis.
Moni Kapsa, an Eastern Orthodox monastery in southeastern Crete, Greece, is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Situated in the Lasithi region, near Pervolakia Gorge and overlooking the Libyan Sea, the monastery features a unique cave-like church with pebble mosaics. Its history spans from the Byzantine period, with evidence of hermits and monks residing there, through Venetian rule, pirate raids, and Ottoman influence. It was revived in the 19th century by Iosif Gerontogiannis, a local hermit later venerated as a saint. The complex includes monks' cells, a guesthouse, and a dining hall, built on four levels. The church's north wall contains paintings from 1552-1809, remnants of an older structure. The nearby Pervolakia Gorge offers hiking trails and unique flora. The monastery played a role in WWII, assisting Allied forces. It was restored in the early 2000s and remains an active monastery.
Papagiannades, a village in Sitia, Crete, boasts a history dating back to the Minoan era, evidenced by settlement remains. First mentioned in 1834, its name derives from its settlers. The Venetian-era church of Panagia Eleousa, with frescoes from 1363-64, stands as a landmark. Known for high-quality olive oil, the village features a historic oil mill. Papagiannades offers a glimpse into traditional Cretan life, with narrow streets and hospitable residents, surrounded by olive groves. The village population, 69 in 2021, reflects its quiet charm.
Perivolakia, a small village in Sitia, Lasithi, Crete, consists of two settlements, Epano and Kato Perivolakia. Near Kato Perivolakia lies Pezoulas. The village is known for the Perivolakia or Kapsa Gorge, a 4.5km gorge with steep walls, and the nearby pre-Minoan Vournoferto cave with hunting scenes. Historically, Perivolakia is first mentioned in the 1881 census. Other sights include the deserted monastery of Panagia, caves in Kalo Nero, the Monastery of Kapsa, the old church of Agioi Saranta, beaches like Ammoudi, and the deserted settlement of Pezoulas. The village had 21 residents in 2011.
Piskokéfalo, a large village in Siteia, Crete, was a Venetian fiefdom of the Kornaros family, including poet Vitsentzos Kornaros. The village features a restored Kornaros residence and watermill, intended as a museum. Near Katrinia hill, a rural temple with Minoan artifacts was unearthed, and a Minoan mansion's ruins remain. Piskokéfalo was the Turkish administration seat until 1871. The nearby ruined settlement of Trapezonda, also linked to the Kornaros family, was destroyed multiple times, including by Barbarossa. The village's population has fluctuated over time, reaching 642 residents in 2011.
Sitanos, a village in Lasithi, Crete, sits at 620 meters altitude and is linked to ancient Itanos. The Exo Latsidi cave, one of Crete's largest, is nearby. Sitanos appears in Ottoman (1671) and Egyptian (1834) censuses. The village has an Ottoman fountain and the abandoned Zakathos settlement. Its population has fluctuated, from 168 in 1881 to 27 in 2021.
Skalia, a small village in Crete's Sitia region, is known for its 19th-century resistance against Turkish rulers. The villagers' bravery became legendary, but their resistance led to a tragic end. Betrayed by a priest, the villagers were massacred by Turks. Today, Skalia lies in ruins, with only the Church of Agios Georgios and one house remaining. The village wall and spring are still visible. The tragedy occurred in the late 17th or early 18th century, and is commemorated annually.
Voila, an abandoned village near Chandras in Sitia, Crete, offers a glimpse into Crete's Venetian and Ottoman past. The village, deserted since the 19th century, likely owes its name to a Byzantine surname, a term for boyars, or a place for oxen. Voila was once a sizeable village, documented in Venetian censuses of the 16th century with over 300 inhabitants. A prominent landmark is the Venetian tower, featuring a 1742 Turkish inscription and carvings of axes, cypresses, and pentagrams. Local tradition links the tower to a Janissary named Tsin-Alis. The village also houses the ruins of the 15th-century church of Agios Georgios and Panagia, likely built by the Salamon family, potential ancestors of the poet Dionysios Solomos. Two fountains with Turkish inscriptions and remnants of a Venetian castle further illustrate Voila's rich history.
Zakathos, a now-abandoned village in Lasithi, Crete, has a history rooted in pre-Hellenic times. During the Ottoman era, it was a Turkish village, with inhabitants converting to Islam. Later, it functioned as a metochi (farm) associated with Katelionas, as documented in the 1583 census. The village, situated in the Sitanos region, had a Muslim population of 103 in 1881. The abandoned settlement, divided into Upper and Lower Zakathos, is now utilized by residents of Ziros and Zakros. A notable Ottoman-era fountain graces the nearby "Vrysi" spring in Sitanos.
Zakros, a village on Crete's east coast, was once an important Minoan settlement. The ruins of the Minoan palace are a popular tourist destination and an important archaeological site. The village is also known for the Gorge of the Dead, named for the numerous Minoan Age tombs found in the caves along its sides. The Water Museum houses artifacts and tools related to the history of water use in the area, and the Folklore Museum displays exhibits on the traditional way of life in the region. Kato Zakros has a beautiful beach, and the nearby beach of Xerokambos is also worth visiting. The area around Zakros offers opportunities for hiking and exploring the natural beauty of the region.
Ziros is a village in eastern Crete, built at 590 meters on the southern foothills of Mount “Engremnos”. The area is characterized by limestone rocks with karst formations such as sinkholes and caves.
The area of Ziros is rich in archaeological remains. Near the village of Chamaitoulo, at the site of Vrysi, a large Minoan settlement with cyclopean walls has been found.
The earliest written mention of the settlement is made by Francesco Barozzi in 1577, who refers to it as Siro. In the Venetian census of 1583 it is referred to as Ziro with 448 inhabitants.
In the village are the churches of Agios Nikolaos, Agios Georgios, and Agia Paraskevi. The church of Agia Paraskevi has frescoes dating back to 1523.