erapetra is the most southerly town in all Greece. The site of modern town was occupied by one of the most important cities in the ancient Crete. It was initially called Cyrbas, from the name of its founder.
According to the myths, Cyrbas was one of the artisans whom Rhea brought with her from Rhodes. Later it was called Kamiros, Pytna and eventually Ierapetra. It reached the height of its prosperity in the 2nd century BC, when it dominated Praisos and almost the whole of the Siteia area. In 1798, it is said that Napoleon spent the night in the town on the way to Egypt, and the house in which he stayed can still be seen.

The little Archaeological Museum of Ierapetra contains exhibits dating from between Early Minoan and Roman times.
		he most interesting exhibits are the fine through rather crude larnaces from Episkopi, fashioned from clay and decorated with pictures of animals in lively colors. There is also a fine Roman statue discovered in Ierapetra. The town also has a number of interesting churches dating from more modern times. Today Ierapetra is an attractive modern town; the indented coastline has some superb sandy beaches.
Thanks to its mild climate and generally good weather, it has the most sunshine and the least rainfall if anywhere else in Crete.

rom Ierapetra there are beaches to visit both east and west of the town and on the islet of Chrysi. Some of them are Ayia Fotia (some 16 km away from Ieraptra), Makriyialos (an attractive village on the bay of Kala Nera, 24 km away from Ierapetra), Myrtos (a peaceful village at a fine sandy beach with clear waters, 16 km away from Ierapetra) and many more that worth to discover.

Photos and text taken from "Crete - today and yesterday" and "Crete - A tour of all the towns and villages" (Toubis Editions)

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