Visit Sitia
In the Footsteps of Vitsentzos Kornaros
As a destination, Sitia can transport visitors back to the era of Vitsentzou Kornaros and the Cretan Renaissance, to the places where the poet was born, grew up, found inspiration, and wrote Erotokritos.
Vitsentzos Kornaros was born in 1553 in Trapezounda, overlooking the city of Sitia, the Sitia Mountains, and the endless blue sea. Later, the family settled in Piskokefalo, in the Kornaros family’s stately home, near the watermill and the church of Saint George, which is adorned with their coat of arms. In the city of Sitia, the Kazarma and the seaside wall of the Venetian administrative center are still preserved today, as well as the church of Saint Catherine, the patron saint of Sitia.
Monuments and Future Initiatives
The most important Renaissance monuments open to visitors in the wider area of Sitia are the Monastery of Panagia Akrotiriani, with its elaborate architecture; the Venetian mansion in Etia, with its stone carvings; and the tower in Voila.
The VITSENTZOS KORNAROS Cultural Centre, as part of its educational objectives, aims to develop a proposal for an educational visit to the sites associated with Vitsentzos Kornaros, which it will support with appropriate activities.