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{{Short description|Town on island of Crete in Greece}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name               = Sitia
|name_local         = Σητεία
|type = municipality
|image_map          = 2011 11 Dimos Sitias NEU.png
|image_skyline      = Kreta sitia hafen.jpg
|caption_skyline    = 
|city_flag          = 
|city_seal          = Sitia Logo.png
|coordinates        = {{coord|35|12|N|26|6|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_min      = 0
|elevation_max      = 5
|periph             = [[Crete]]
|periphunit         = [[Lasithi]]
|pop_municipality   = 20438
|area_municipality  = 710.9
|pop_municunit      = 15615
|area_municunit     = 277.4
|pop_community      = 11166
|mayor              = Georgios Zervakis<ref name=mayor>[https://ekloges.ypes.gr/current/d/home/en/municipalities/9313/ Municipality of Sitia, Municipal elections – October 2023], Ministry of Interior</ref>
|party              = 
|since              = 2019
|population_as_of   = 2021
|postal_code        = 72x xx
|area_code          = 28430
|licence            = ΑΝ
|website            = [http://www.sitia.gr www.sitia.gr]
}}

'''Sitia''' ([[Latin language|Latin]] and [[Italian language|Italian]]) or '''Siteia''' ({{langx|el|Σητεία}}, {{translit|el|Siteía}} {{IPA|el|siˈtia|}}) is a port town and a municipality in [[Lasithi]], [[Crete]], Greece. The town has 11,166 inhabitants and the municipality has 20,438 (2021).<ref name="census21" /> It lies east of [[Agios Nikolaos, Crete|Agios Nikolaos]] and northeast of [[Ierapetra]]. Sitia's port is on the [[Sea of Crete]], part of the [[Aegean Sea]]<ref>Peter Saundry, C. Michael Hogan & Steve Baum. 2011. [http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sea_of_Crete?topic=49523 ''Sea of Crete''. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds.M.Pidwirny & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and Environment. Washington DC.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013081338/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sea_of_Crete?topic=49523 |date=October 13, 2012 }}</ref> and is one of the economic centers of the [[Lasithi]] region. [[European route E75]] (which ends in [[Vardø (town)|Vardø]], Norway) starts in Sitia. The town is served by the [[Sitia Public Airport]]. It has not experienced the effects of mass tourism{{dubious|date=April 2024}} even though there is a long beach along the road leading to [[Vai (Crete)|Vai]] and several places of historical interest.

==History==
[[File:Città di Settia - Francesco Basilicata - 1618.jpg|thumb|250px|The city of Sitia and the surrounding area by [[Francesco Basilicata]], 1618]]
[[File:Sitia R01.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Kazarma fortress]] at the top]]
[[File:Sitia R02.jpg|thumb|250px|View of the marina]]
The settlement of the town dates to pre-[[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] times. Excavations in the [[Petras]] neighbourhood have found architectural remains from the end of the Neolithic (3000 BC) and continue through the Bronze Age 3000-1050 BC, including the Minoan palace of Petras. Several other Minoan settlements have been found within the municipality, notably [[Itanos]] and [[Mochlos]].{{cn|date=November 2024}}

According to [[Diogenes Laërtius]], Sitia was the home of [[Myson of Chen]], one of the [[Seven Sages of Greece]].{{cn|date=November 2024}}

{{anchor|Names|Etymology|Toponymy}}

===Name===
The ancient Itia or Etea<ref>John Freely, Crete: Discovering the 'Great Island {{ISBN|1-84511-692-5}}, p. 154</ref> ({{langx|grc|Ἠτεία}}, {{translit|grc|Ēteía}}) appears to correspond roughly to modern Sitia. The name Siteia itself is probably the result of [[Rebracketing#In Greek 2|rebracketing]] of {{translit|grc|se}} ({{lang|grc|σε}}, "at") and {{translit|grc|Ēteía}}.<ref>[[Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt]], ''Travels and Researches in Crete'', 1865, chapter XIX, [https://books.google.com/books?id=OzMbAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA201 p. 201]</ref><ref name=Bourne1887>{{Cite journal
 | author = Bourne, Edward G.
 | year = 1887
 | title = The Derivation of Stamboul
 | journal = American Journal of Philology
 | volume = 8
 | issue = 1
 | pages = 78–82
 | doi = 10.2307/287478
 | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press
 | jstor = 287478
}}</ref>

===Ancient Sitia===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
Sitia was founded by [[Minoans]] as Itia,{{dubious|date=April 2024}}<!--use the actual Minoan form if it exists--> and was a place of refuge for native Cretans after the fall of the major Minoan settlements.{{fact|date=April 2024}} The city continued to prosper through the Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods as one of the island's chief ports.

===Venetian era===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
The town was later expanded and fortified by the [[Venice|Venetians]] after their acquisition of Crete in 1204, who used it as a base of operations for the Eastern Mediterranean. During the Venetian occupation, the town was destroyed three times: first by an earthquake in 1508, then by the Turkish pirate [[Hayreddin Barbarossa]] in 1538, and finally by the Venetians themselves in 1651. This final destruction took place in the context of the [[Cretan War (1645–1669)]] in which the Venetians battled to retain their hold on the island against the [[Ottoman Empire]]. While Sitia did not fall in the initial Turkish advance, the Venetians did not have the resources to withstand a long siege, and accordingly destroyed the fortifications and removed the garrison to [[Heraklion]]. The local inhabitants meanwhile removed westwards to Liopetro and the site was subsequently abandoned for the next 200 years of Turkish rule.

The main remnant of the Venetian occupation is the ''[[Kazarma fortress|Kazarma]]'' (from Italian ''casa di arma''), the old fortress overlooking the harbour.

===Modern era===
After the Venetian period and subsequent abandonment the town was rebuilt until 1870 by the progressive Turkish governor [[Hüseyin Avni Pasha]] following the [[Cretan Revolt (1866–1869)|Cretan Revolt]]. It was subsequently created capital of the Sanjak of Lasit (later [[Lasithi]], which it remains to this day). Under Turkish rule the town was renamed '''Avniye'''{{what?|date=April 2024}}<!--provide the Ottoman Turkish form--> after its rebuilder, but as the local Greeks continued to use the traditional name of Sitia this innovation did not survive independence. Despite the turbulent history of Crete in leaving the Ottoman Empire and joining Greece, as well as the First World War, the population almost quadrupled between 1881 (570 inhabitants) and 1928 (2,100 inhabitants). Major public works were carried out by the Greek government in 1911 to modernise the town, in the course of which much of the Ottoman era town was rebuilt, as well as a fresh water supply.

==Geography==
===Municipality===
The municipality Sitia was formed at the 2010 local government reform by the merger of the three former municipalities [[Itanos]], [[Lefki, Lasithi|Lefki]] and Sitia, which became municipal units.<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg.|title=ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref> In November 2011, Sitia incorporated the four communities [[Chrysopigi]], [[Lithines]], [[Perivolakia]] and [[Pefkoi]], which had previously been part of the municipality [[Ierapetra]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eetaa.gr/eetaa/metaboles/fek/2011/fek_239a_2011.pdf|title=ΦΕΚ 239A 2011|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref> In 2014, these communities were grouped into the new municipal unit [[Analipsi, Lasithi|Analipsi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eetaa.gr/eetaa/metaboles/fek/2014/fek_93a_2014.pdf|title=ΦΕΚ 93A 2014|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>

The municipality Sitia consists of the following municipal units and communities:{{cn|date=November 2024}}
*[[Analipsi, Lasithi|Analipsi]] (Chrysopigi, Lithines, Pefkoi, Perivolakia)
*[[Itanos]] ([[Karydi, Itanos|Karydi]], [[Palaikastro]], [[Zakros]])
*[[Lefki, Lasithi|Lefki]] (Agia Triada, Apidia, Armenoi, Chandras, Pappagiannades, [[Ziros, Lasithi|Ziros]])
*Sitia ([[Achladia]], Agios Georgios, Chamezi, Exo Mouliana, Katsidoni, Krya, Lastros, Maronia, Mesa Mouliana, Myrsini, Piskokefalo, Praisos, Roussa Ekklisia, Sitia, [[Sfaka]], Skopi, Stavromenos, Tourloti)

The municipality has an area of {{convert|627|km2|abbr=on}}, the municipal unit {{convert|277|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf|publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece|title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)|language=el}}</ref>

===Province===
Sitia Province or Eparchy ({{lang|el|Επαρχία Σητείας}}, {{translit|el|Eparkhía Siteías}}) was one of the [[provinces of Greece|provinces]] of Lasithi. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality Sitia and the municipal unit [[Makry Gialos]].<ref name=census91>{{cite web|url= http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00086.pdf |title=Detailed census results 1991 }}&nbsp;{{small|(39&nbsp;MB)}} {{in lang|el|fr}}</ref> It was abolished in 2006.

===Environmentally protected areas===
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2024}}
There are a number of sites in the municipality of Sitia that are protected as National Parks, Aesthetic Forests, Wildlife Refuges etc. under national and international laws. Sitia is home to the Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark.
Notable examples are:
*[[Dionysades]] Islands which carry many rare and endangered plant species and also serve as a refuge of several animal species (mostly birds and small reptiles), including the falcon, ''Falco eleonorae'', which finds sanctuary here.
*[[Vai (Crete)|Vai]] palm forest.
*[[Richtis Gorge]] and waterfall.<ref>[http://www.cretanbeaches.com/Gorges/Lassithi-gorges/richtis-gorge/ Richtis Gorge and Waterfall]</ref>

===Climate===
Sitia has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Csa'') with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location=Sitia (1960–2010)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 15.2
|Feb high C = 15.3
|Mar high C = 16.9
|Apr high C = 19.9
|May high C = 23.5
|Jun high C = 27.1
|Jul high C = 28.4
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 26.5
|Oct high C = 23.5
|Nov high C = 20.1
|Dec high C = 16.9
|year high C = 21.8
|Jan mean C = 12.2
|Feb mean C = 12.2
|Mar mean C = 13.7
|Apr mean C = 16.6
|May mean C = 20.3
|Jun mean C = 24.1
|Jul mean C = 25.9
|Aug mean C = 25.8
|Sep mean C = 23.6
|Oct mean C = 20.3
|Nov mean C = 16.9
|Dec mean C = 13.9
|year mean C = 18.8
|Jan low C = 9.7
|Feb low C = 9.5
|Mar low C = 10.5
|Apr low C = 12.8
|May low C = 15.9
|Jun low C = 19.9
|Jul low C = 22.6
|Aug low C = 22.7
|Sep low C = 20.4
|Oct low C = 17.3
|Nov low C = 14.0
|Dec low C = 11.4
|year low C = 15.6
|precipitation colour = green 
|Jan precipitation mm = 92.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 71.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 49.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 23.3
|May precipitation mm = 12.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 2.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 16.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 50.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 59.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 91.8
|year precipitation mm = 468.9
|Jan precipitation days = 13.1
|Feb precipitation days = 11.3
|Mar precipitation days = 8.8
|Apr precipitation days = 5.0
|May precipitation days = 3.0
|Jun precipitation days = 0.8
|Jul precipitation days = 0.1
|Aug precipitation days = 0.3
|Sep precipitation days = 1.7
|Oct precipitation days = 5.7
|Nov precipitation days = 8.2
|Dec precipitation days = 12.4
|year precipitation days = 70.4
|source 1 = [[Hellenic National Meteorological Service]]<ref name = HNMS>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hnms.gr/emy/el/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=Crete&poli=Sitia
| title = Siteia Climatological data 1960–2010
| publisher = Hellenic National Meteorological Service
| access-date = 30 September 2020}}</ref>
| date=July 2014}}

==Infrastructure==
{{Refimprove section|date=November 2024}}
The municipality of Sitia is served by the [[Sitia Public Airport]] which offers several domestic destinations. The first landing occurred on June 7, 1984 and the airport opened officially on June 9, 1984. Construction of new building facilities that included a control tower was completed in May 1993. Runway and apron extension works were finished in May 2003. In 2011, the local authorities completed negotiations with international travel agents for organising regular charter flights starting in May 2012.<ref>[http://www.sitia.gr/information-services/news/aerchart.html Charter flights 2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001191455/http://www.sitia.gr/information-services/news/aerchart.html |date=2011-10-01 }}, (in Greek)</ref> The same year, local officials negotiationed with the low-cost airline [[Ryanair]].<ref>[http://www.lasithinews.gr/News.aspx?ArtlId=3083&%CE%95%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%AE%20%CE%9C%CE%B9%CF%87.%20%CE%9A%CE%B1%CF%81%CF%87%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B7%20%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1%20%CF%84%CE%BF%20%CE%B1%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BF%20%CE%A3%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82%20%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9%20%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD%20Ryan%20Air Ryanair to fly to Sitia] (in Greek)</ref>

In addition, Sitia is served by a port which connects Sitia and eastern Crete with several other Greek islands as well as with the [[port of Piraeus]].<ref>[http://www.gtp.gr/PortPage.asp?id=1703 Sitia Port]</ref> The town also has a marina which accommodates smaller fishing boats and yachts.

===Health services===
Sitia General Hospital was founded in 1947 as a local health center and was later (1994) relocated to a new 7500m<sup>2</sup> (110-bed capacity) building and accordingly upgraded to serve as the main hospital for the municipality of Sitia and the surrounding area.<ref>[http://www.ghsitia.gr/ General Hospital of Sitia] (in Greek).</ref>

==Culture==
===Attractions===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
*[[Moni Toplou]], founded in the mid 15th century, is one of the most significant monasteries in Crete.
*[[Kazarma fortress]], in the town of Sitia.
*Gorge of the Dead (at [[Kato Zakros]]).
*Archaeological Museum of Sitia.
*Folkor{{what?|date=April 2024}} Museum of Sitia.
*Various archeological sites with [[Minoan civilization]] settlements from the [[Bronze Age]], such as in [[Itanos]] and [[Mochlos]].

===Notable people===
*[[Yannis Hamilakis]] - archaeologist
*[[Myson]] - philosopher (one of the 7 legendary wise men of ancient Greece)
*[[Vitsentzos Kornaros]] - poet (composer of ''[[Erotokritos]]'')
*[[Giorgos Mazonakis]] - singer
*[[Jenny Hiloudaki]] - DJ
*[[Manousos]] - Musician (bassist of ''[[Psofioi Korioi]]'' Band)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}
*[http://www.sitia.gr/en/visitor/sitia-city/history-city.html Municipality of Sitia (History)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110722172353/http://www.palaikastro.com/vai/index.php Vai forest]
*[https://archive.today/20120731062158/http://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/gorges-of-crete/gorges-in-lassithi-prefecture/641-richtis-gorge.html Richtis gorge]
*[http://www.cretanbeaches.com/Gorges/Lassithi-gorges/kato-zakros-gorge-deads-gorge/ Gorge of the Dead]
*[http://candia.wordpress.com/photos/photo-2010/richtis-gorge-april-2010/ Richtis beach and gorge]
*[http://www.worldreviewer.com/travel-guides/canyon/richtis-gorge-and-waterfall/61078/ Richtis gorge and waterfall]
*[http://1lyk-siteias.las.sch.gr 1st General Lyceum of Sitia (high school)]
*[http://www.cretan-nutrition.gr Cretan Quality Agreement, local non-profit "promoting local cuisine and good health" ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110627025236/http://opengalleries.org/greece/crete/sitia/Sitia.html Photos from Sitia]
*[http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-east/EN-Sitia-history.html]

{{Crete (island)}}
{{Kallikratis-Crete}}
{{Siteia div}}
{{Prefectures and provinces of Greece}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Crete]]
[[Category:Populated places in Lasithi]]
[[Category:Sitia| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Greece]]