Ierapetra

Ierapetra (Greek: Ιεράπετρα, meaning Holy Stone; ancient name: Ἱεράπυτνα Hierapytna) is a town and municipality in the southeast of the Greek island of Crete. The town of Ierapetra (in the local dialect: Γεράπετρο Gerapetro) is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios Nikolaos and southwest of Sitia and is an important regional centre. With its 15,323 inhabitants (2001) it is the most populous town in the prefecture of Lasithi, and the fourth town of Crete. Ierapetra is nicknamed "bride of the Libyan Sea" because of its position as the only town on the south coast of Crete. Ierapetra has had a place in the history of Crete since the Minoan period. The Greek and later Roman town of...