53:
953:
902:
394:
towns, there would be a rockfall problem. There is no sign that this problem was ever addressed there. On the seaward side, the high cliffs with beating waves would have made use of the promontory as a port impossible. The promontory is not a hill, and no one ever settled on it or built up its treacherous slopes. No refugees could live for long in the citadel, due to lack of water, food, and space. It would have been easily isolated. It undoubtedly had value as a lookout and early warning station.
342:
defensive value, as the bombardment of the
Parthenon at Athens by Turkish ships had demonstrated. The Parthenon had been considered a secure location to store gunpowder. The Turks were not interested in occupying Kastri, and in general, fixed positions today are an easy target for persistent bombardment. They may hold out heroically for a time, but without supporting troops in the region are doomed to fall. Itanos to the north had been similarly abandoned centuries earlier.
69:
1204:
1192:
1168:
669:
618:
381:
1216:
563:
1228:
95:
1240:
1180:
1252:
765:
426:
76:
384:
Rousolakkos in the foreground, Kastri in the background. The slope on the left side of the promontory is 22°; on the right side, 40°. The former is habitable; the latter, not. The apparent flat area at the top is a razor-back ridge. The cliffs at the bottom go all the way around. Nothing cultivatable
320:
to the west. It had 6 villages, including Mitato ("hut"), named after an ancient stone shepherd's mitato of interest to visitors. However, subsequently the population on the plain diminished to the point where Mitato village had no permanent residents. Consequently, by
Presidential Decree No. 70/207,
393:
It is incorrect to say, however, that anyone ever "inhabited" or "moved to" some sort of "hill" there. The promontory, though fortifiable to some extent, is no more habitable than the Rock of
Gibraltar. Even if the population attempted to build housing up the cliffs, as is true of some Greek coastal
389:
The center of
Palaikastro is about 2 km (1.2 mi) due west from there. To obtain such a name as "old fort," Palaikastro at the time must have been close to the promontory, in the Bronze Age, most likely at Rousolakkos. There is some evidence that the Minoans moved around the base, leaving
345:
The promontory is partly in the water. Its long dimension along the water is 423.83 m (463.51 yd). Its short dimension is 286.65 m (313.48 yd). It is flanked by
Kouremenos beach on the north and Chiona beach on the south. The Minoan settlement at Rousolakkos is located behind
341:
The fort was built before the age of cannon. It had been a defensible location in steep terrain and rough ground, with a view for some distance around. Whether or not the fort replaced an earlier one is unknown. By the time the
Venetians abandoned it, the use of cannon had nullified most of its
300:
implemented starting 2011 made the town into a local community (topiki koinoteta) under jurisdiction of the next-highest levels, chained as follows: municipal unit (demotike enoteta) Itanos, municipality (demos) Sitia, regional unit (periphereiakes enotetas) Lasithi, region (periphereia) Crete.
1328:
Transliteration of the Greek name typically given in
Internet translations of Greek texts. The name as used in the texts refers to an administrative area such that the sum of all areas is the area of Itanos. The name may also refer to a known smaller feature, which may be linked to another
1338:
The name is the one used by standard Greek-language
Internet encyclopedias such as buk.gr, hellenecaworld.com, the .gov.gr sites, or others, such as worldcitydb.com, etc. These are noted with simple links. Translations if desired can usually be obtained from applications such as Google
338:. Flat land is totally absent from the promontory, but around the top ridge the Venetians constructed a walled and turreted fort. In the centuries after the Venetians left much of the stone was re-used by the population. Sections of battlements and houses remain.
52:
321:
on recommendation of the
Minister of the Interior, and approval by Sitia and Palaikastro, K. Mitato was phased out and its settlements were turned over to Palaikastro, which had been collecting the population, and providing the services, anyway.
329:
At the coast of the town is a 65 m (213 ft) high precipitous promontory called Kastri (Latin castrum, "fort"), which received its name and gave it to the settlement below, Palaikastro ("old fort") in the Middle Ages, when
1128:
close to the Chiona beach, excavated by
English archaeologists, clearly shows that the region was one of the most important commercial centres of the Minoan culture in the extreme east of the island of Crete.
1315:
292:
abbreviation PK, is a thriving town, geographic heir to a long line of settlements extending back into prehistoric times, at the east end of the Mediterranean island
1279:[Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
43:
952:
1316:"Συγχώνευση Τοπικών Κοινοτήτων Μητάτου και Παλαικάστρου Ιτάνου Σητείας ("Merger of Local Communities of Mitatos and Palekastro Itanos of Sitia")"
1667:
1475:
113:
191:
179:
630:
914:
1391:
1677:
68:
20:
1138:
246:
1124:, today several meters below sea level, is mentioned in ancient times. The very extensive Minoan commercial settlement
1055:
863:
820:
777:
724:
681:
575:
524:
481:
438:
1012:
965:
1215:
1203:
1191:
349:
1276:
807:
So structured as to make Kyriamadi Forward Naval Base a separate settlement, though not under local jurisdiction.
1468:
167:
1167:
1142:
297:
225:
1448:
901:
377:, which are not to be confused with another, much smaller promontory at the south end of Chiona beach.
1141:
were discovered in October 1899 by a farmer 150 metres (160 yd) northeast of the town of Palaikastro.
235:
1227:
1461:
1117:
999:
and the lands on which it sits a separate settlement. The monastery owns lands elsewhere as well.
1101:
335:
289:
1239:
1179:
1251:
1494:
1105:
1096:
The main economic activity of the approximately 1100 inhabitants continues to be agriculture.
155:
57:
Panorama looking ENE into the Strait of Kasos over the town from some high ground to the west.
1453:
996:
668:
609:
is located there, site of the ancient Minoan city forced inland to P. over the centuries.
617:
1672:
1572:
1549:
1528:
1153:
331:
309:
281:
273:
380:
1661:
1395:
1145:
is a carved figure of a youth that was recovered in fragments between 1987 and 1990.
1121:
1108:. Tourism is an important source of supplementary income and is likely to remain so.
562:
1277:"Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό"
1125:
606:
94:
764:
1104:
however is difficult these days because of the substantial overfishing in the
1097:
1443:
1422:
1379:
1290:
1070:
1057:
1027:
1014:
980:
967:
929:
916:
878:
865:
835:
822:
792:
779:
739:
726:
711:
Kouremenos Beach is located to the NE of P. up to and including Tenda Point.
696:
683:
645:
632:
590:
577:
539:
526:
496:
483:
453:
440:
402:
The local community of Palaikastro comprises several settlements (oikismoi).
364:
351:
128:
115:
759:
317:
216:
425:
1357:
1591:
1348:
A set of representative coordinates from the area referenced by the name.
1149:
1368:
385:
is in evidence, although indigenous species are sure to be found there.
172:
1632:
1583:
1538:
1520:
1485:
313:
305:
242:
221:
196:
184:
148:
1637:
379:
293:
160:
90:
Map of east Crete. Palaikastro is in red; Lasithi in pink and red
1457:
390:
remains even on the light slopes leading up to the promontory.
257:
16:
A modern city near the east coast of the Greek island of Crete
951:
900:
763:
667:
616:
561:
424:
93:
1100:
and grape vines are cultivated and a few fishermen remain.
944:
The center of town itself without the other settlements.
660:
Village to the W of Chochlakies Gorge S of Cape Plaka
1120:
times the region was a centre of trade. The port of
346:
Chiona beach. The coordinates of the promontory are
316:, and Mitato (Μητάτο). The latter was located on an
1581:
1547:
1518:
1492:
253:
232:
215:
207:
202:
190:
178:
166:
154:
144:
31:
1042:A hotel district to the north of Kouremenos beach
1469:
8:
1476:
1462:
1454:
28:
1152:above the town has the ruins of a Minoan
930:35.19918457467764°N 26.254327683909917°E
404:
1268:
1163:
646:35.14728998233268°N 26.24653465027309°E
252:
214:
201:
143:
108:
61:
49:
935:35.19918457467764; 26.254327683909917
231:
206:
189:
177:
165:
153:
7:
1484:Subdivisions of the municipality of
651:35.14728998233268; 26.24653465027309
75:
1116:It is a historic site. Already in
14:
1250:
1238:
1226:
1214:
1202:
1190:
1178:
1166:
74:
67:
51:
1444:Palaikastro Archaeological Site
1221:The Minoan site of Roussolakkos
605:Chiona Beach N of Cape Plaka.
304:Until 2017 Palaikastro shared
1:
754:Formerly in Mitato district.
554:Formerly in Mitato district.
511:Formerly in Mitato district.
1318:. Καλλικράτης. 27 July 2017.
1139:Minoan Moulds of Palaikastro
1085:Formerly in Mitato district
1668:Populated places in Lasithi
468:Commercial village E of P.
398:Administrative substructure
258:http://www.palaikastro.com/
1694:
893:Rural area W of the town.
850:Rural area W of the town.
18:
995:So structured as to make
285:
277:
109:
62:
50:
41:
1392:"The Palaikastro Kouros"
35:
19:Not to be confused with
1209:Remaining fortification
1197:Remaining fortification
1112:Historical significance
1071:35.144925°N 26.188202°E
1028:35.218598°N 26.262230°E
981:35.220980°N 26.215725°E
879:35.195365°N 26.238951°E
836:35.193335°N 26.234302°E
793:35.297588°N 26.302439°E
740:35.160433°N 26.163009°E
697:35.211975°N 26.266691°E
591:35.197708°N 26.277034°E
540:35.154753°N 26.173978°E
497:35.154373°N 26.173776°E
454:35.195976°N 26.264244°E
1449:The Palaikastro kouros
1143:The Palaikastro Kouros
956:
905:
768:
672:
621:
566:
429:
386:
208: • Community
98:
1678:Minoan sites in Crete
955:
904:
767:
671:
620:
565:
428:
383:
365:35.20270°N 26.27578°E
298:Kallikratis Programme
234: • Summer (
156:Administrative region
97:
1076:35.144925; 26.188202
1033:35.218598; 26.262230
986:35.220980; 26.215725
884:35.195365; 26.238951
841:35.193335; 26.234302
798:35.297588; 26.302439
745:35.160433; 26.163009
702:35.211975; 26.266691
596:35.197708; 26.277034
545:35.154753; 26.173978
502:35.154373; 26.173776
459:35.195976; 26.264244
1067: /
1024: /
977: /
926: /
875: /
832: /
789: /
736: /
693: /
642: /
587: /
536: /
493: /
450: /
422:Agathia or Angathia
361: /
125: /
26:Community in Greece
1582:Municipal unit of
1548:Municipal unit of
1519:Municipal unit of
1493:Municipal unit of
1102:Commercial fishing
957:
906:
769:
673:
622:
567:
430:
387:
370:35.20270; 26.27578
336:Republic of Venice
290:Godart and Olivier
99:
1655:
1654:
1106:Mediterranean Sea
1089:
1088:
263:
262:
129:35.200°N 26.250°E
1685:
1478:
1471:
1464:
1455:
1433:
1431:
1429:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1403:
1398:on 16 March 2011
1394:. Archived from
1388:
1382:
1377:
1371:
1366:
1360:
1355:
1349:
1346:
1340:
1336:
1330:
1326:
1320:
1319:
1312:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1301:
1287:
1281:
1280:
1273:
1254:
1242:
1230:
1218:
1206:
1194:
1182:
1170:
1082:
1081:
1079:
1078:
1077:
1072:
1068:
1065:
1064:
1063:
1060:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1035:
1034:
1029:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1020:
1017:
997:Toplou Monastery
992:
991:
989:
988:
987:
982:
978:
975:
974:
973:
970:
941:
940:
938:
937:
936:
931:
927:
924:
923:
922:
919:
890:
889:
887:
886:
885:
880:
876:
873:
872:
871:
868:
847:
846:
844:
843:
842:
837:
833:
830:
829:
828:
825:
804:
803:
801:
800:
799:
794:
790:
787:
786:
785:
782:
751:
750:
748:
747:
746:
741:
737:
734:
733:
732:
729:
708:
707:
705:
704:
703:
698:
694:
691:
690:
689:
686:
657:
656:
654:
653:
652:
647:
643:
640:
639:
638:
635:
602:
601:
599:
598:
597:
592:
588:
585:
584:
583:
580:
551:
550:
548:
547:
546:
541:
537:
534:
533:
532:
529:
508:
507:
505:
504:
503:
498:
494:
491:
490:
489:
486:
465:
464:
462:
461:
460:
455:
451:
448:
447:
446:
443:
405:
376:
375:
373:
372:
371:
366:
362:
359:
358:
357:
354:
287:
279:
239:
140:
139:
137:
136:
135:
130:
126:
123:
122:
121:
118:
78:
77:
71:
55:
29:
1693:
1692:
1688:
1687:
1686:
1684:
1683:
1682:
1658:
1657:
1656:
1651:
1629:Roussa Ekklisia
1577:
1543:
1514:
1488:
1482:
1440:
1427:
1425:
1420:
1417:
1412:
1411:
1401:
1399:
1390:
1389:
1385:
1378:
1374:
1367:
1363:
1356:
1352:
1347:
1343:
1337:
1333:
1327:
1323:
1314:
1313:
1309:
1299:
1297:
1289:
1288:
1284:
1275:
1274:
1270:
1265:
1258:
1255:
1246:
1243:
1234:
1231:
1222:
1219:
1210:
1207:
1198:
1195:
1186:
1183:
1174:
1171:
1162:
1135:
1114:
1094:
1075:
1073:
1069:
1066:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1054:
1053:
1032:
1030:
1026:
1023:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1010:
985:
983:
979:
976:
971:
968:
966:
964:
963:
950:
934:
932:
928:
925:
920:
917:
915:
913:
912:
899:
883:
881:
877:
874:
869:
866:
864:
862:
861:
840:
838:
834:
831:
826:
823:
821:
819:
818:
797:
795:
791:
788:
783:
780:
778:
776:
775:
762:
744:
742:
738:
735:
730:
727:
725:
723:
722:
701:
699:
695:
692:
687:
684:
682:
680:
679:
666:
650:
648:
644:
641:
636:
633:
631:
629:
628:
615:
595:
593:
589:
586:
581:
578:
576:
574:
573:
560:
544:
542:
538:
535:
530:
527:
525:
523:
522:
501:
499:
495:
492:
487:
484:
482:
480:
479:
458:
456:
452:
449:
444:
441:
439:
437:
436:
423:
400:
369:
367:
363:
360:
355:
352:
350:
348:
347:
332:Crete was ruled
327:
233:
133:
131:
127:
124:
119:
116:
114:
112:
111:
105:
104:
103:
102:
101:
100:
91:
86:
85:
84:
83:
79:
58:
46:
37:
34:
27:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1691:
1689:
1681:
1680:
1675:
1670:
1660:
1659:
1653:
1652:
1650:
1649:
1646:
1643:
1640:
1635:
1630:
1627:
1624:
1621:
1618:
1615:
1612:
1609:
1606:
1603:
1600:
1597:
1596:Agios Georgios
1594:
1588:
1586:
1579:
1578:
1576:
1575:
1570:
1569:Pappagiannades
1567:
1564:
1561:
1558:
1554:
1552:
1545:
1544:
1542:
1541:
1536:
1531:
1525:
1523:
1516:
1515:
1513:
1512:
1509:
1506:
1503:
1499:
1497:
1490:
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1480:
1473:
1466:
1458:
1452:
1451:
1446:
1439:
1438:External links
1436:
1435:
1434:
1421:Ian Swindale.
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1321:
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1249:
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1237:
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1225:
1223:
1220:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1165:
1161:
1158:
1154:peak sanctuary
1134:
1131:
1113:
1110:
1093:
1090:
1087:
1086:
1083:
1051:
1048:
1044:
1043:
1040:
1008:
1005:
1001:
1000:
993:
961:
958:
946:
945:
942:
910:
907:
895:
894:
891:
859:
856:
852:
851:
848:
816:
813:
809:
808:
805:
773:
770:
756:
755:
752:
720:
717:
713:
712:
709:
677:
674:
662:
661:
658:
626:
623:
611:
610:
603:
571:
568:
556:
555:
552:
520:
517:
513:
512:
509:
477:
476:Άγιος Νικόλαος
474:
470:
469:
466:
434:
431:
419:
418:
415:
412:
409:
399:
396:
326:
323:
261:
260:
255:
251:
250:
240:
230:
229:
219:
213:
212:
209:
205:
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200:
199:
194:
192:Municipal unit
188:
187:
182:
176:
175:
170:
164:
163:
158:
152:
151:
146:
142:
141:
134:35.200; 26.250
107:
106:
92:
89:
88:
87:
81:
80:
73:
72:
66:
65:
64:
63:
60:
59:
56:
48:
47:
42:
39:
38:
32:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1690:
1679:
1676:
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1669:
1666:
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1663:
1647:
1644:
1641:
1639:
1636:
1634:
1631:
1628:
1625:
1622:
1619:
1617:Mesa Mouliana
1616:
1613:
1610:
1607:
1604:
1601:
1598:
1595:
1593:
1590:
1589:
1587:
1585:
1580:
1574:
1571:
1568:
1565:
1562:
1559:
1556:
1555:
1553:
1551:
1546:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1526:
1524:
1522:
1517:
1510:
1507:
1504:
1501:
1500:
1498:
1496:
1491:
1487:
1479:
1474:
1472:
1467:
1465:
1460:
1459:
1456:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1441:
1437:
1424:
1423:"Palaikastro"
1419:
1418:
1414:
1397:
1393:
1387:
1384:
1381:
1376:
1373:
1370:
1365:
1362:
1359:
1354:
1351:
1345:
1342:
1335:
1332:
1325:
1322:
1317:
1311:
1308:
1296:
1292:
1286:
1283:
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110:Coordinates:
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1602:Exo Mouliana
1533:
1426:. Retrieved
1400:. Retrieved
1396:the original
1386:
1375:
1364:
1353:
1344:
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1324:
1310:
1298:. Retrieved
1294:
1291:"Palekastro"
1285:
1271:
1233:Roussolakkos
1147:
1136:
1126:Roussolakkos
1115:
1095:
909:Παλαίκαστρον
607:Roussolakkos
417:Description
401:
392:
388:
344:
340:
328:
303:
288:), with the
286:Παλαίκαστρον
269:
265:
264:
180:Municipality
21:Palaiokastro
1645:Stavromenos
1623:Piskokefalo
1557:Agia Triada
1534:Palaikastro
1511:Perivolakia
1402:14 November
1245:Main street
1185:Kastri Hill
1173:Kastri hill
1133:Antiquities
1074: /
1031: /
984: /
933: /
898:Palaikastro
882: /
839: /
796: /
743: /
700: /
649: /
614:Chochlakies
594: /
543: /
500: /
457: /
368: /
278:Παλαίκαστρο
266:Palaikastro
132: /
82:Palaikastro
36:Παλαίκαστρο
33:Palaikastro
1662:Categories
1502:Chrysopigi
1428:4 February
1415:References
1339:Translate.
1300:7 February
1257:The church
1062:26°11′18″E
1059:35°08′42″N
1019:26°15′44″E
1016:35°13′07″N
972:26°12′57″E
969:35°13′16″N
921:26°15′16″E
918:35°11′57″N
870:26°14′20″E
867:35°11′43″N
827:26°14′03″E
824:35°11′36″N
784:26°18′09″E
781:35°17′51″N
731:26°09′47″E
728:35°09′38″N
688:26°16′00″E
685:35°12′43″N
676:Κουρεμένος
665:Kouremenos
637:26°14′48″E
634:35°08′50″N
582:26°16′37″E
579:35°11′52″N
531:26°10′26″E
528:35°09′17″N
488:26°10′26″E
485:35°09′16″N
445:26°15′51″E
442:35°11′46″N
356:26°16′33″E
353:35°12′10″N
270:Palekastro
203:Population
1605:Katsidoni
772:Κυριαμάδι
760:Kyriamadi
625:Χοχλακιές
414:Location
325:Etymology
318:altiplano
217:Time zone
44:Community
1648:Tourloti
1592:Achladia
1566:Chandras
1505:Lithines
1495:Analipsi
1329:article.
1150:Petsofas
858:Μερτύδια
855:Mertydia
719:Κρυονέρι
716:Kryoneri
1626:Praisos
1620:Myrsini
1614:Maronia
1611:Lastros
1599:Chamezi
1563:Armenoi
1160:Gallery
1092:Economy
1050:Βρυσίδι
1047:Vrisidi
433:Αγκάθια
334:by the
254:Website
173:Lasithi
145:Country
120:26°15′E
117:35°12′N
1633:Siteia
1584:Siteia
1560:Apidia
1539:Zakros
1529:Karydi
1521:Itanos
1508:Pefkoi
1486:Siteia
1380:buk.gr
1369:buk.gr
1358:buk.gr
1295:buk.gr
1148:Mount
1122:Itanos
1118:Minoan
1098:Olives
960:Τοπλού
949:Toplou
559:Chiona
519:Μητάτο
516:Mitato
411:Greek
314:Zakros
310:Karydi
306:Itanos
296:. The
197:Itanos
185:Siteia
149:Greece
1673:Sitia
1642:Skopi
1638:Sfaka
1573:Ziros
1550:Lefki
1263:Notes
1007:Βίγλα
1004:Vigla
815:Λύδια
812:Lydia
570:Χιώνα
408:Name
308:with
294:Crete
282:Greek
274:Greek
243:UTC+3
222:UTC+2
211:1,254
161:Crete
1608:Krya
1430:2006
1404:2010
1302:2022
1137:The
247:EEST
268:or
236:DST
226:EET
1664::
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312:,
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