Crete - east of Sitia continued, Itanos

 We left Vai and continued east looking for an archaeological site that was indicated on the road map.

This was about it for the signage. No info boards, piles of rubble, outlines of walls and buildings - just a hint of what had been a large and vital settlement.

Image and text from Crete-today.com

Itanos flourished in the historic Greek and Roman period. It was established in the Prehellenic period. Itanos became powerful and wealthy from conducting trade with Syria, Palestine and Libya. The city had its own coins and buildings covered with marble.

This was the most complete building.

So many different colours in the stones.

Situated between 2 protected coves and with a good view of the coast. There was also a small patch of arable land in the valley behind. It answered Rick's question "Why here?"

This had a sign that said "Basilica" but the web sites call it an Acropolis. We were amazed at the marble - where did it come from, how was it transported here? The shape was definitely of a Christian church, a cross.

We could see Rick's "nudist beach" from here but not Vai, it was tucked into a cove.

 We could see tour buses on the road that continued east but there was nothing indicated there on the map so we didn't go any further and turned back to look at the monastery we had passed on the way out.