SITIA DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION SA

SITIA

 THE OTHER FACE OF CRETE

"The brilliant sands embraced the slumbering sea

Sweet melody was heard in wave and tree..."

    These verses by Vitsenzos Kornaros beautifully describe the marine aspect of Sitia. The poet continues:

"There were mountains and plains and forests and dells

Grass, flowers and plants, cool fountains and wells

Trees with blossom and fruit, fresh meadows where dwelled

Many shepherds on farms..."

    This is the image of the Sitian countryside, equally idyllic, enchanting and ancient.

    The whole of Crete is truly a beautiful and noble land, "from Gramvousa to Toplou Monastery" as Kazantzakis says.

    However, every area of the island has its own beauty, its own character, and its own identity. And Sitia is billed as "the quiet face of Crete!" The quiet, mild, sweet aspect of Crete... The Crete that laughs, sings and relaxes...

    Visitors to Sitia discover these things for themselves, in this different and unexplored area of Crete, a land which even looks exotic - with the Palm Forest of Vai, the sand dunes, juniper trees and other African plants and the hot midday sun burning down on the cool coasts and seas.

    The province of Sitia is a vast cultural paradise.

    It is the "gateway to the East" as archaeologists call it. The Minoan harbour centers of Zakros, Palecastro, Sitia, Mochlos and Pseira etc were the most ancient meeting and communication points of Minoan Crete with the grand civilizations of the East and Egypt and it was here that marine and trade centers, powerful towns, brilliant palaces, luxurious mansions, famous shrines, art centers and so many more developed and flourished.

    The archaeological spade has brought to light many findings that visitors can admire, while diggings are continued every year to unveil new precious treasures.

    The famous capital of the  "Eteocretans"  Praisos, the powerful Doric Itanos, the Roman Lefki (Koufonisi)  or "Delos" of the Libyan sea as it was named with its 1000 seat theatre, the  grand Roman villa at Makri Gialos, the fine Venetian mansion of Etia, the "Small Mistras" of medieval Voila, the impressive  Kazarma Fortress in Sitia, the remains of the Kornaros family, the Monastery of Toplou or "the Big Monastery" as named by the locals and the monasteries of Kapsas, Faneromeni and Ag. Sophia of Armeni, the Byzantine churches mythological and historical places, picturesque traditional villages and numerable samples and compositions of folk architecture adorn and mark the whole of the Sitia Province and attract the interest of visitors.

    The archaeological and folk museums of the town of Sitia are among the best and the richest in the country. The wonderful museum of icons, relics and engravings of the Toplou Monastery and the small but interesting folk museums of Palaikastro, Chamezi, Chandras and Pefki also house and "offer" to the public valuable treasures of the local historical and cultural heritage.

    The diffusive sweetness and romantic atmosphere of the town and villages of Sitia are subliminally reminiscent of the story of Erotokritos and Aretousa, the masterpiece of Vitsenzos Kornaros, "the most erotic poet of international literature", who...

"In Sitia was he born, in Sitia he was bred,

There he worked hard to write all these words that you 've read..."

But also the modern Sitia has its achievements.

• It produces the best-and many times awarded- olive oil in the world, biological olive oil and wines of high quality and exquisite vegetables.
• It produces wonderful traditional pastries, dairy products, honey, raki etc that are continuously awarded at international contests.
• It has high quality restaurants of the most genuine Cretan cuisine. It keeps its rich culture and in the villages traditional festivities are organised and many more beautiful cultural events.
• It is the first worldwide area in the utilization of Alternative Sources of Energy due to its wind farms which is something appreciated by the friends of the environment.
• It has a virgin natural environment, "unique in Greece and Europe" and a rich and variable agricultural landscape with immense olive groves, vineyards, gardens and orchards, often animated by the traditional farmers with their donkey and goats.
• Its excellent utilization of alternative sources of energy, superb biological products, virgin countryside and traditional rural landscape make Sitia an "ecological orchard of Europe" as it is righteously called.

Visitors may enjoy the beauty of nature and the thrills of its cultural heritage passing nature and culture loving organised routs, thoroughly enjoy swimming and sea sports at organised or isolated beaches and seas with crystal clear water, participate in excursions to other parts of Crete and the surrounding islands and naturally enjoy themselves in more modern ways.

The Prefecture of Sitia constitutes a unique tourist unit and its regions the town of Sitia, Maki Gialos, Koutsouras, Palecastro, Zakros, Xerokampos and Mochlos without being saturated have all kinds of high class hotels and lodgings and reasonable prices.

Sitia awaits you for your most beautiful and fulfilling vacation.  

About O.A.S.

The Sitia Development Organization (OAS S.A.) is a limited company owned by the four Municipalities of Sitia Province and other bodies representing local authorities, cooperatives and the productive classes of Lassithi Prefecture and Crete.

 

From its inception, the O.A.S. Board of Directors has included, apart from the Municipalities, the major productive classes of the Province, i.e. farmers, professional craftsmen and tourism professionals, represented through their respective organizations.

 

The aim of the organization is to support local authorities, the other bodies involved and the private sector in undertaking and realizing development projects and initiatives, and to aid local development.

 

O.A.S. realizes its aim through mostly specialized projects, studies, services and initiatives, such as:

 

Technical and financial studies and research, information and notification, consulting, technical and organizational support, vocational training, exchange of experiences, transfer and dissemination of technical expertise, demonstration and pilot projects and actions, collaborative networks, management and implementation of integrated interventions (e.g. the LEADER Program), participation in special bodies, supporting the international relations of local authorities and other bodies, etc.

 

All of the above are realized through prefectural, regional, national and, above all, European programs, some of which are competitive.

 

Through its work, O.A.S. has offered significant services and benefits to local development and modernization, including new jobs, increased income, exploitation of local resources, dissemination of new technology and technical expertise, improvement of production levels, cultivation of the spirit and practice of cooperation, etc.

 

The operation of O.A.S. is based on the principles of administrative independence, business efficiency, transparency and meritocracy, and on the principles of consensus and social dialogue. OAS is both the technical consultant and catalyst for local development.

 

 The work of O.A.S. is particularly appreciated and the services of the European Union promote it as an exemplary agency of local development.