Α palm tree forest stretching on a marvellous valley and sandy beach, next to the ancient Itanos, 28 km away from Sitia.
It is 8 km away from Palekastro and 6 km away from TOPLOU Monastery.
It covers 200 acres and consists of self planted palm trees of Theophrastus (Phoenix Theofrasti).
Anzel Keys’ renowned study of seven countries, which was published in 1980, revealed that the health level of Cretans was the highest in the world.
Cancers and cardio-circulatory disease were rare, since out of 100.000 people on Crete, there were only 9 deaths attributed to these diseases as opposed to 466 in Finland.
The close links of Crete with Europe are widely recognised, since Crete is the place where the continent received its name.
In Greek mythology, lust-loving Zeus, in the guise of a white, winged bull carried off on his back the beautiful princess of Phoenicia, Europa, daughter of king Agenor, to the island of Crete where he fathered the progenitors of a magnificent civilization known as the Minoans.
The Sitia town and the tourist developed areas live in the rhythms of a modern cosmopolitan life.
Next to this modern everyday reality coexist in a way all the features that define the cultural character of the Cretan folk tradition.
For these material and intellectual features, the manners and customs, the ancient habits the vigorous local folk tradition gains distinction as an inexhaustible contemporary cultural entity.
As rich and beautiful the nature in Sitia district is so interesting and alive is the rural life there.
The grounds of Sitia, the plains, the valleys the hills and the feet of the mountains are cultivated.
The nature of Sitia district remains rich and virgin.
There are many expanded candidate “NATURA areas”
Numerous sites of exceptional natural beauty.
Rare geological forms and sights of geological development.
Ten (10) large gorges and geological crevices.
Three hundred (300) caves of great interest.
Two thousand one hundred (2100) species of self-sown plants, 300 are endemic and there are many aromatic or medicinal plants.
The municipality of Itanos offers some of the most picturesque and clean beaches in the world.
There are those beaches that combine the peacefulness with small scenic fish taverns where after a good swim you can enjoy the nonchalant sunset with snacks and a drink or with a Greek coffee.
It is a coastal area with a settlement 8 km away from Pano Zakros at a magnificent bay with sandy beach.
Kato Zakros is the most impressive small fishing village, hidden away in the south-east corner of Crete, behind a beautiful tamarisk-fringed beach.
Anyone staying in Kato Zakros will want to walk down the “Valley of the Dead”, approximately a 2-hour walk, which leads down from Pano Zakros, to the sea at Kato Zakros.
Palekastro is a lively, unpretentious village, at the east coast of Crete 20 km away from Sitia and the seat of the Municipality of Itanos.
It was named after an old castle.
Although the village is growing, it manages to retain its character and charm. The village square is the centre of activities and is lined with cafes and taverns.
The long archaeological and historical research at the Sitia area has brought to light rare and valuable finds and information of all civilizations from the Neolithic Age and the Minoan period to the New Age.
The civilizations that have flourished the grounds of Sitia, one of the richest areas in archaeological sites internationally have bequeathed us magnificent samples of material and intellectual wealth that are exhibited in the district Museums and Collections.