Άγ. Σαράντα (Αγ. Ιωάννου Ιεράπετρας)周辺のおすすめシティハイキング＆ウォーキング

In the summer of 1798, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte conducted his campaign against the Mamluks in Egypt to protect French trade in the region and prevent British access to India. During his journey eastward, he is said to have spent one night in a house in Ierapetra.

The city was heavily damaged during the Arab conquest in 824, but was subsequently rebuilt. It experienced a new golden age during the Venetian period from the 13th to the 17th centuries – since then it has borne its current name, Ierapetra. In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have stopped in Ierapetra during his campaign in Egypt. The house where he allegedly stayed is still open to the public today.

In antiquity, the city was called Hierapytna. The earliest remains of the city date back to the fifth century BC. It achieved dominance over the southeastern region of Crete; this golden age lasted until its conquest by the Romans in 67 BC. The Roman villa of Makrygialos dates from this period.

When the city of Ierapetra was occupied by the Turks in 1647, the castle was repaired and used for the city's defense. The name Kales originates from this period, as it comes from the Turkish word "kule," meaning tower.

Ierapetra (Greek: Ιεράπετρα [ieˈɾapetɾa] (f. sg.)) is a town in the southeast of the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete and the administrative center of the municipality of the same name (Greek: Δημος Dimos [ˈðimɔs]). It is the southernmost town in Europe (excluding Cyprus, which geographically belongs to Asia). Ierapetra lies at the narrowest point of Crete: from the south to the north coast, it is only 12 kilometers as the crow flies.

Kales Fortress was built by the Venetians in the 13th century AD to protect the city of Ierapetra from their enemies. It was destroyed in 1508 by an earthquake and Turkish raids. The damage was not repaired, perhaps because it was so severe and there was no funding available.

The memorial in the town center of Ierapetra, Crete, honors the courage of the locals in their resistance against the German occupation during World War II. The sculpture of an armed Cretan fighter symbolizes bravery, sacrifice, and the people's desire for freedom.

It's impossible to miss, right on the harbor. Open almost daily, admission is free.