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Ayios Nikolaos is the
capital of the Prefecture of Lassithi,
the eastern part of Crete. From here you can make trips to
many archeological sites.
The town
is situated on a little promontory on the western side of the Bay of
Mirabello, protected by the mountains. Thanks to its
warm climate, its calm sea and
the fast transfer from the airport of Heraklion
it has developed into a leading resort centre with large hotels.
There is no romantic old
town as in Chania or Rethimnon.
The harbour
is the base for countless pleasure craft and fishing-boats.
There are less beaches near by the city. Daily
tours to the plateau of Lassithi, to Kritsa and to the island of Spinalonga
are offered. There are some ferry
boat connections. In the summer the Lato-festival take place with
many performances. The
town was given its current name in the 16th century, by the Venetians.
The little chapel of St. Nicholas can
still be seen today. The chapel, a single-aisled
structure with a dome, is very old and has wall-paintings in two layers.
They are among the finest on Crete.
After
1870 the town began to develop. Many refugees
from Sfakia settled here to escape the bloody
fightings which for decades had been the order of the
day in Sfakia. |
