Agios Nikolaos
Eastern Crete

The Town of Agios Nikolaos in the eastern part of Crete is probably the most cosmopolitan town on the island. It was the first area that became a popular tourist destination for holiday makers from all over the world. The more popular name for the town has for years been "Ag'nik"

This charming town is especially characterized by the lake in the central part of the harbour area surrounded by restaurants, cafés and tavernas. Along the sides of the lake small characteristic fishing boats add to the charming atmosphere. The tavernas and restaurants in Ag'nik mostly offer extensive menus with Greek specialities, fresh fish and cosmopolitan dishes. Here you can also get yourself a steak cooked exactly as you like it. If you want to go shopping, the narrow streets in the old part of town offers shops and boutiques for shoes, jewellery, pottery, fashion, designer clothes, souvenirs and lots more. This is a town worth visiting.
Amazing Crete Travel

Accomodatie Elounda, Agios Nikolaos

Facts about Agios Nikolaos
The sea in Agios Nikolaos is superb and the surrounding area of the city is noted for its sandy beaches and beautiful bays.

The landmark of the city is a small lake, known as "Voulismeni" that is located in the centre of the city, at the foot of the cliffs. Its shape is circular with a diameter of 137m.
According to the mythology, the goddess Athena used to take her bath in this lake. The depth of the lake is 64 m and was connected to the sea only recently, with a canal opened at 1870.
It is an especially picturesque site with many open-air cafes and restaurants along the bank. Small boats leave the harbour to visit the Venetian fortress of Spinaloga, near Elouda.
Every summer the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos organizes cultural events, music, dancing, theatrical performances, exhibitions and shows. Also, during the Naval week, artistically swimming, water skiing, wind-surfing contests are organized.

Agios Nikolaos also possesses the second finest Archaeological Museum in Crete, where splendid archaeological findings from throughout the Prefecture of Lasithi are exhibited.

History

The site where the town is built today used to be the ancient "Lato pros Kamares", which was the harbour of the "Lato Etera", an important and powerful city located near the village of "Kritsa". During the Roman and the first Byzantine period it also served as a harbour.
During the Venetian occupation, the Venetians built the fortress Mirabello (meaning beautiful view), on the site where the Prefecture building stands today, sadly there is nothing left of the fortress today, but it gave its name to the Prefecture and to the bay of "Mirabello".

When the Venetians built another port in the area of Elouda some 10 kms to the north named "Porto di San Nicolo", the importance of the harbour of Agios Nikolaos became important.
The city is named after the small Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos, located on the peninsula, the church has fine frescoes from the 8th, 10th and 11th century.

Facilities

Agios Nikolaos offers a variety of tourist accommodation, some of the oldest hotels are located in Eleftheria square, but there are many new fine hotels not only in the town, but all along the coast. There are also many cafes, restaurants, bars and shops.

Agios Nikolaos, capital of the Prefecture of Lasithi, is one of the most highly developed tourist towns in Greece.
It lies along the west of the Mirabello bay. The main road axis of the island passes right outside the city limits , connecting it with Iraklion (76 km) to the west, Sitia to the east (70 km) and Ierapetra to the south (36 km).
Agios Nikolaos is the administrative, communications, cultural and commercial centre of the Prefecture, with approximately 8500 inhabitants.

The climate in the area is mild with extremely low humidity. It is an ideal place to relax and recover one's energy. Text by Interkriti.