Ierapetra is the most southerly
town in Europe and is known for its particularly mild climate. The town
of Ierapetra has been in existence since ancient times, when it had important
trade links with North Africa. Roman remains, a Venetian fort, a Turkish
mosque and minaret still exist. The journey from Heraklion
takes about one and a half hours. In the centre of the town there is a
long promenade with lots of shops, tavernas and hotels,
and the little harbour with its Venetian fort.
Many of the local inhabitants of the area around
Ierapetra work in agriculture, and so is common to see the long green houses
for growing vegetables, while inland there are lovely pine fortests and
olive groves. The kilometre long sand and shingle beach with numerous attractive
little coves, has two beaches which have been awarded the Blue European
Flag. Near to Ierapetra, there are many little villages with rooms or apartments
for rent as well as lots of hotels. The region of Ierapetra lends itself
particularly for walking, or for boat trips to the nearby bays, to the
golden Island of ‘Crisi” or Koufonisi with its unusual crushed-shell
beaches. There are many interesting outings to be made, for example
a visit to Agios Nikolaos, to the
vast Lassithi Plain with its
windmills, to the Butterfly Gorge or to the beautiful palm strewn beach
at Vai. |
