Makrigialos is located 58km southeast of Agios Nikolaos and 23km east of Ierapetra. It is a large village, located near the exit of the lush canyon of Pefki. Being initially a humble harbor with no roads in the ‘50s, Makrigialos has faced a strong growth and has become the largest tourist destination in the region. It actually consists of two settlements, Makrigialos and Analipsi, which are now united. In the village you can find large and small hotels, taverns, restaurants, bar and cafes, super markets, bakeries, ATMs, doctor and pharmacy.
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The very quiet area of Makrigialos with the plain and the sheltered beach could not be ignored by the Minoans, who left important traces of habitation. The main finding is a rural mansion, a miniature Minoan palace in position Plakakia, found in 1971 by Kostas Davaras.
The Monastery of St. John in Kapsas is located 9km east of Makrigialos next to Goudouras. This is owned by Toplou Monastery, near Sitia, and is dedicated to the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, celebrated on August 29.
The beautiful beachfront facing east and extending from the northernmost point of Koufonisi to the small well beneath the outpost of the island is called Anemertia. Anemertia's northern part is sandy, while the south is mainly rocky.
In a lush green ravine formed between Analipsis and Pefki we meet the former monastery of St. George of Samakidis. The church celebrates on November 3rd and is built in a cave. According to tradition, in 1471 Joseph Samakidis, who lived in the monastery of Panagia Kera by village Pilalimata left his monastery due to pirate raid.
A few meters from the central square of the village Stavrochori (formerly Stravodoxari) in the province Ierapetra is the oldest neighborhood of the village, Mesochoria. In the square of Mesochoria, where narrow picturesque alleys lead, is the two-aisled church of Saint George and Panagia.
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