Hagia Photia

About 5 km from Sitia lies a Minoan necropolis with a total of 252 graves.

A residential complex was excavated not far from the burial ground. In contrast to the necropolis, it dates from a later period, namely around 2000 BC. The building has 37 rooms opening onto a central courtyard. It was originally surrounded by a fortification wall. It can already be interpreted as a prototype of a Minoan palace.

The site was abandoned, and circular structures were built over the ruins. These structures may have been tholos tombs. Many of the grave goods here date from the Cycladic period and could indicate that Hagia Photia was a Cycladic colony.