Agios Nikolaos, Crete

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Agios Nikolaos
name_local = Άγιος Νικόλαος

---

imagesize = 280px
periph = Crete
prefec = Lasithi
population = 19462
population_as_of = 2001
area = 317.834
elevation =
lat_deg = 35
lat_min = 11
lon_deg = 25
lon_min = 43
postal_code = 721 00
area_code = 28410
licence = ΑΝ
mayor = Dimitrios Kounekakis
website = [http://www.aghiosnikolaos.gr www.aghiosnikolaos.gr]
city_

city_

districts =
party =
since =
elevation_min = 0
elevation_max = 10

Agios Nikolaos (or Aghios Nikolaos, Greek: Άγιος Νικόλαος) is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. In the year 2000, the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, which takes in part of the surrounding villages, claimed around 19,000 inhabitants. The town is the capital of the "nomos" (province) of Lasithi, and sits partially upon the ruins of the ancient city of Lato pros Kamara.

History

Agios Nikolaos was settled in the late Bronze Age by Dorian occupants of Lato, at a time when the security of the Lato hillfort became a lesser concern and access to the harbour at Agios Nikolaos became sufficiently attractive. [ [http://themodernantiquarian.com/site/10847/lato.html#fieldnotes C.Michael Hogan, "Lato Fieldnotes", The Modern Antiquarian, Jan 10, 2008] ]

The name Agios Nikolaos means "Saint Nicholas", and its stress lies on the third syllable of the word "Nikolaos". "Agios Nikolaos" or "Ayios Nikolaos" (alternative transliterations of the Greek "Άγιος Νικόλαος") is observably a common placename in Greece and Cyprus, since Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and of all of Greece.

Modern Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos is probably best known as a tourist town that serves as a hub to the twenty or so small villages and farms that make up that part of Lassithi. Tourist attractions include the small lagoon Lake Voulismeni, small beaches in the town, the tiny island Agioi Pantes, the archaeological museum, the local flora exhibition “Iris” and numerous fairs. Tourism is mainly west European with Greek tourism concentrating in mid August. The lagoon features a small park with a trail, traditional fishing boats, ducks, pigeons, an amphitheatre and many cafès.

Transportation

Agios Nikolaos is accessible from the mainland and the whole of Europe through "Nikos Kazantzakis" airport, and the many daily ferry services in Heraklion. Two ships connect Aghios Nikolaos daily with the ports of Piraeus and Dodecanese, and recently the town became host to a department of a Technological Educational Institute (TEI), offering tourism-related courses.

Notable Persons from Agios Nikolaos

*Nikos Koundouros (1926) director
*Mimis Androulakis (1951) politician
*Maria Damanaki (1952) politician

Gallery

ee also

*Lake Voulismeni

References

External links

* [http://www.aghiosnikolaos.gr Homepage of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos]
* [http://www.marinaofaghiosnikolaos.gr/eng_home.htm Homepage of the Marina of Agios Nikolaos]