Myrtos (Crete)
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Local community Myrtos Τοπική Κοινότητα Μύρτου (Μύρτος) |
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| Basic data | |||
| Country |
 Greece
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| region | Crete | ||
| Regional district | Lasithi | ||
| local community | Ierapetra | ||
| Parish | Ierapetra | ||
| Geographic coordinates | 35 ° 0 ′ N , 25 ° 35 ′ E | ||
| Height above d. M. |
18 m (average) |
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| surface | 8.822 km² | ||
| Residents | 620 (2011) | ||
| LAU-1 code no. | 72020114 | ||
| Local division | 5 | ||
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Myrtos ( Greek Μύρτος ( m. Sg. )) Is a village in the municipality of Ierapetra on the south coast of the Greek island of Crete . It is about 50 km away from Agios Nikolaos on the road to Viannos . Together with four nearby settlements, the village forms a local community, Myrtos itself has 441 inhabitants (2011).
In contrast to the purely agrarian-oriented neighboring villages, Myrtos has been able to develop some tourism since the late 1980s, which today represents the main source of income for the small community alongside agriculture. The village is located in a climatic zone that is considered to be the warmest in Crete. In the surrounding area, bananas are also grown outside of greenhouses, which in Europe is only possible in this part of Crete. However, the bananas are significantly smaller than the bananas in international trade and are rarely exported. However, the main product of the farmers of Myrtos and the surrounding area is tomatoes.
The Minoan excavations of Pyrgos are just before the entrance to the village . Another archaeological excavation, Fournou Koryfi , the remains of an early Minoan settlement with a total of 90 rooms, is about 2.5 kilometers further (towards Ierapetra). In the museum of Myrtos, in addition to found objects such as clay works from different eras, a very clear, reconstructed model of the settlement can be seen as it might have looked.
A special feature of the rather unspectacular beach of the place is the possibility of renting surfing and sailing equipment, as the wind conditions in the bay are fairly evenly favorable. Myrtos is also popular as a starting point for hikes in the Dikti Mountains north of the village .
The main attraction in Myrtos is the small local museum next to the church. The large and very detailed model of the ancient settlement of the Minoan Fournou Korifi is particularly important in the museum.
Today there are about 20 hotels and as many taverns in the town. Most of the tourists come from the Netherlands, Great Britain and Germany. Myrtos is on the main road Ierapetra - Ano Viannos. Buses run from Myrtos to Ierapetra about 8 times a day. All are connected to other buses to the capital of Crete Heraklion via Agios Nikolaos.
Web links
- Official website of Mirtos (also in German)
- Mirtos, Myrtos in Crete. Crete Trip, accessed October 13, 2016 .
- John Atkinson: The Brief History of Mirtos. MirtosCrete, 2016, accessed October 13, 2016 .
- Mýrtos village. Intercrete, accessed October 13, 2016 .
- Myrtos Beach and other beaches in the area
Individual evidence
- ↑ Results of the 2011 census at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)