The seas of Sitia are garlanded with many beautiful islands large and small which host a wide variety of rare sea-life and flora. Every island is a tribute to a land blessed by the gods! The remains of a Minoan settlement have recently been excavated on the island of "Psira", the island of "Elasa" to the east was where the Minoans first set foot on Crete, the Dionisades and Ianisades stand guard over the bay of Sitia and last but not least the island of Koufonisi is renowned for its long history of trading in porphyry. Apart from these larger islands, the seas abound with small rocky islands which are a winter home to a rare Mediterranean hawk - "Falco Eleonorae".