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AGIOS NIKOLAOS IN CRETE
Some people like it and some people don't, like with most places. And although Agios Nikolaos is rather a big place compared to other villages on Crete (it has close to 10.000 inhabitants, and many more tourists visiting), I, as a person that likes peace and quiet spots, still thinks this place is okay. For me that means that it's a nice place to visit and look around for an afternoon. The landscape and it's position are unique: surrounded by the blue water of the Mirambelou Gulf, with the islands of San Antonio and Spinalonga. It has a long promenade, a beautiful lake, nice shops (a cristal shop I found was really amazing), plenty of tavernes and hotels. For a short movie of Voulismeni Lake click here.
Agios Nikolaos has become a very populair tourist desination, so it can become crowded. On a hill at San Nicolo Bay, where the Venetian ships made their stops, you can find the well preserved Nicolas Church (next to Hotel Minos Palace). Here the Venetians had their fortres Mirabello. Now this has been covered with hotels. The seaside of Agios Nikolaos was covered by the fortres island of Spinalonga.
Agios Nikolaos is the capital of the nomos Lassithi. Most life you will find around the Voulismeni Lake and the harbour. The former sweetwater lake was connected to the sea by a canal between 1867 and 1871. It was said to be bottomless, but in fact it is around 60 meters deep.
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Beaches are scarse in Agios Nikolaos: they are small and crowded. The most attractive one would be Ammoudi beach 300 meters from the harbour. It's small and sandy, with turqoise water, and it has two tavernas. It's also very busy ;). If you like good beaches than Elounda beach is not far away, and it's easy to get to with the bus.
Agios Nikolaos got it's name from the old church with the same name, the Agios Nikolaos Church (the patron saint of sailors).
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Hans Huisman 2007
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