Ierapetra Crete
Ierapetra lies at around 35km south of Agios Nikolaos and is the
largest city in southern Crete with a population of around
11,000 people. The surrounding area has a rich, fertile soil and
warm sunny climate for most of the year. Consequently, its main
industry, along with tourism, is the cultivation of fruit and
vegetables. The land around the city abounds with lemon and
orange groves.
The modern city stands on the site of the ancient city of the
same name which thrived during the 2nd century BC. The city
continued to flourish during the Roman Period and, in the 13th
century, it was taken over by the Venetians who constructed its
fortress and completed the fortifications of the town. The
fortress was given the name Castle Gerapetra but is known
locally as Casteli or Kales.
Interesting places to visit are the Archaeological Museum where
many of the findings of the area are exhibited. In the
neighbourhood of the old city there is a Turkish area which has
a mosque dating from the period of the Ottoman Empire. Close by
are several significant churches: the 14th century Church of
Metamorphosis of Christ and the churches of Agios Nikolaos;
Agios Ionnis and Agios Georgios.
Opposite the Kales is the Church of Panagitis or Panagitsa of
Kales. The Kales itself is worth looking at. It is located on
the south pier of the ancient harbour and had four towers on
each corner of its walls with an indoor courtyard that contained
a reservoir. From old prints, it is known that the rooms of the
castle spread underneath the ramparts. During the Ottoman Empire
the fortress was expanded and renovated.
Unfortunately however, it has not stood the test of time and
much of its splendour has now disintegrated. There is a
Proto-Minoan village that dates back to 2,600-2,300 BC in the
village of Vasiliki which is fairly close to Ierapetra. Boat
trips also leave the harbour every day in the summer to the
small island of Chrisi. . .
