Agios Nikolaos or Aghios Nikolaos is a coastal city on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island’s capital Heraklion, north of the city of Ierapetra and west of the city of Sitia.
In 2021, the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, which takes in part of the surrounding villages, had 27,785 inhabitants. The town sits partially upon the ruins of the ancient city of Lato pros Kamara.
The name Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas. Its stress lies on the second syllable of the word “Nikolaos”. Agios Nikolaos or Ayios Nikolaos is a common placename in Greece and Cyprus, since Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, and of Greece.
Agios Nikolaos is 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 of Agioi Pantes, the archaeological museum, the local flora exhibition “Iris” and numerous fairs.
Tourism is mainly West European, with Greek tourism concentrated in mid August, though there are a considerable number of Russian visitors in East Crete. The lagoon features a small park with a trail, traditional fishing boats, ducks, pigeons, an amphitheatre and many cafés. The modern city of Agios Nikolaos became internationally well known during the 1960s, when it was “discovered” by famous cinema directors (Jules Dassin, Walt Disney etc.), BBC producers and many others. It was then that the rapid tourist development of the area started. Among the various productions filmed were He Who Must Die, The Moon-Spinners, and the TV series The Lotus Eaters.
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