Cities

At the west end of Tholos beach we meet the ruins of a large oblong building that served as a granary for storing grain and other products, especially during the Roman Era. Then, the port of Tholos was a transshipment point for ships carrying grain between Alexandria of Egypt and Rome. It is believed that is was also used during the Venetian Times.

The ancient bridge of Eleftherna was built in the first half of the 4th century and is preserved in excellent condition, crossing the torrent Chalopotas. Nearby there was another twin bridge that has not survived. It has a length of 9.5 meters and a width of 5.25 meters. It has a characteristic shape, as there is no arch, but a triangular opening (ekforic architecture).

The Fountain of Ibrahim Babas is located, in a terrible situation, in current Almyrou street, just north of the Park Theotokopoulos. Unfortunately, strangers have stolen parts of elaborate relief plates that adorned the fountain. The fountain is fitted on the exterior wall of the house of Ibrahim Baba that has now collapsed.

Within walking distance from Vrondas ancient site, there is the old monastery of Aghia Paraskevi, where one of the few arcosolium (domed tombs) of Crete survives.

The islands of Grandes is a complex of three small lowland rocks in the province of Sitia, about half a mile opposite the beautiful beach of Hiona. In fact, the largest area (300 acres) is occupied by the middle island, known as Prasonisi, which is oblong and has the highest altitude at 31 meters. In the middle of the island there is a beautiful beach with two tamarisk trees, surrounded by rocks.

The building operated as a nunnery (Monasterio Greco Madonna Acrotiriani) during the Venetian Era (17th century) and was a dependency of the monastery of Panagia Akrotiriani Toplou by Sitia. A document of 1671 states that the main temple was dedicated to St. John the Theologian, while there was another church dedicated to St. Peter.

The chapel of Agia Paraskevi is accessed via the road leading to Episkopi, Rethymno, from Dramia village, Apokoronas. It is a very small cavernous rock built at the west bank of Mouselas river, that starts from Argiroupoli springs. It is a weird chapel, with irregular sides, with a unique shape in Crete.

Ano Viannos during the Venetian era was the largest village in the province of Belvedere. It was therefore necessary for the Venetians to fortify the area very well. As we can see even today, there are some ruins of a Venetian tower found on the western part of the village, which was also used by the Turks.