Lassithi Kritsa

General information

The mountainous village of Kritsa lies on the foothills of Mount Kastellos, at an altitude of 330-365 meters above sea level. Located just 10 km southwest of Agios Nikolaos, it could well be called an open-air folklore museum thanks to its picturesque cobblestone alleys with their blooming courtyards, embroidery shops, characteristic archways, and traditional coffee houses.

Kritsa offers visitors a magnificent panoramic view over the surrounding verdant valley, the Bay of Mirabello and the Sitia Mountains. It is actually one of the oldest villages in Crete and was undoubtedly connected with the nearby Doric city of Lato, whose ruins can be found 3 kilometers away. During the Byzantine and Venetian eras, the village continued to thrive, and by the end of the 19th century, it was a significant production center in the area of the Lower Mirabello.

Besides its rich history and traditional architecture, Kitsa stands out for its stunning natural beauty; the imposing Havgas Gorge, an ancient oak forest and several high peaks of the Dikti mountain range can all be found in the wider area. The local flora is also of particular interest, which is why the Rodanthi Museum of Rare and Endemic Plants has been established in Kritsa.

Should you visit this village, take the time to visit the Historical and Folklore Museum of Kritsotopoula, as well as the numerous old churches that can be found in the area. The ones that stand out among them are the 15th-century church of Panagia Kera with its remarkable frescoes, Saint George Kavousotis and a temple dedicated to St. John the Evangelist.

Today, though unspoilt and quiet, the village offers a few accommodations and taverns with traditional Cretan delicacies. Taking a closer look, visitors will notice that it was right here that many scenes of Jules Dassin’s He Who Must Die (based on a novel by Nikos Kazantzakis) were shot.