Sitanos, Siteia

Sitanos (Σίτανος) is a village in the municipality of Sitia, in the regional unit of Lasithi, Crete. It is built at an altitude of 620 meters and is 18 kilometers from Sitia. The name Sitanos is believed to be connected to the ancient city of Itanos.

Near the village is the large cave of Exo Latsidi.

The village is not mentioned in the Venetian censuses. Sitanos is mentioned in the Turkish census of 1671, with 9 households that could pay tax. The village is mentioned in the Egyptian census of 1834 as Sitanos with 15 Christian and 2 Turkish families. In 1881 it is reported that it had 146 Christians and 22 Turkish inhabitants and belonged to the municipality of Karydi.

There are several theories about the origin of the name Sitanos. One theory suggests that it is connected to the Itanians, who after the earthquakes and the raids of the pirates fled to the place where the village of Sitanos is located today. Another theory suggests that Sitanos was founded by the Itanians who had colonized the area of Itanos after its destruction in the Byzantine years, which happened in the 9th century, or after the raids of Khair Ed Barbarossa (1537-1539), or after the Turkish raids of the years 1645-1650.

Landmarks

Exo Latsidi Cave

One of the largest caves in Crete, the Exo Latsidi (Έξω Λατσίδι) cave, is located 1 km NW of Sitanos, at an altitude of 640 m. It was formed in Jurassic limestone and has a total length of 1,000 m. After the entrance, there is a chamber 34 m long and 16 m wide and on the right, a chamber 32 m long. On the left, the gallery extends to a total length of 330 m, with a width of 2-8 m and a height of 0.50 to 1.50 m. The various water flows give the impression that it may once have been the bed of an underground river. In general, the decoration of the cave is poor.

Zakathos

The abandoned settlement of Zakathos (Ζάκανθος), a pre-Hellenic name, is also located in the area.

Ottoman Fountain

At the edge of the village, there is a beautiful Ottoman fountain.

Sitanos: Key Points

• Sitanos is located in the regional unit of Lasithi, Crete.
• The village is built at an altitude of 620 meters.
• The name Sitanos is believed to be connected to the ancient city of Itanos.
• Near the village is the large cave of Exo Latsidi.
• Sitanos is not mentioned in the Venetian censuses.
• Sitanos is mentioned in the Turkish census of 1671, with 9 households that could pay tax.
• In 1881 it had 146 Christians and 22 Turkish inhabitants.
• Landmarks: Exo Latsidi Cave, Zakathos, Ottoman Fountain
• Population Data:

References

• Wikipedia
• Ilias Kolovos, 2010, “The District of Siteia, Crete, in the First Years of Ottoman Rule: Preliminary Remarks Based on Ottoman Fiscal Surveys.”