Sitians Demand VOAK Connectivity

• Hundreds of Sitia locals traveled to Heraklion, demanding full inclusion in the VOAK highway project.
• The rally centered around the need for fairness, safety, and development in Eastern Crete.
• Demonstrators were supported by local officials, business owners, and cultural associations.
• Shops and businesses in Sitia temporarily closed to show solidarity.
• The city’s residents pledged to keep up their efforts until the government listens.
• The event highlights how vital road access is to tourism and daily life in Sitia.

The Long Road and the People Who Walk It

Picture Sitia before dawn: coffee percolating in ancient kitchens, buses stretching their wheels as locals—students, parents, pensioners, hotel owners—tumbled onboard. Heraklion’s bustling center awaited, not just another Friday, but the stage for a collective call: Sitia for VOAK.

They’re not asking for luxury. They want a road—a decent, safe road, the same one connecting the rest of Crete. In today’s Crete, the major artery, VOAK (the North Road Axis of Crete for anyone new), skims to a halt at Agios Nikolaos. It leaves Sitia—and a good slice of the island’s soul—cut off at the edge. Promises have come and gone, grand as the myths, but the ribbon of highway always seems to stop just short of Sitia’s sun-bleached hills.

Why the Rally Pulled at Heartstrings

On this May morning, the town itself slowed to join the protest. Sitia’s officials and business leaders were always warm but rarely ruffled, shut up shop, and hopped on buses. The journey to Heraklion—a winding ride more thrilling than a Cretan baptism—became a traveling statement. At the heart stood fairness: “Sitia for VOAK!” signs fluttered as locals gathered at the Cultural Conference Center, voices echoing through the shaded streets.

The event wasn’t just locals with placards (though there were many, each more colorful than the last). It was grandmothers and hoteliers, bakers who know every goat on the mountain by name, and —yes—an entire commercial district on pause. The Sitia Hoteliers’ Association president put it bluntly: “Tourism needs roads. Sitia can’t grow in the shadows by itself.” With every bus, the message rang clearer.

The Broken Promises and the Pushback

The frustration isn’t new. Many remember last spring, when the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Nikos Tachiaos, explained—with practiced calm—that the Sitia stretch just wasn’t a priority. At another press meeting, the Sitia leg of VOAK vanished from the discussion entirely. Excuses resounded: the State lacked funds, perhaps another year, perhaps never. Local leaders, who never let things slide, made their feelings public.

It wasn’t just about the daily inconvenience. For residents—tourists included—lack of quality road access means longer travel times, more accidents, and less economic opportunity. “We won’t let Eastern Crete stay isolated,” one sign read, as shopkeepers and taxi drivers nodded in agreement.

Heraklion Becomes the Heart

The demonstration took on a life of its own. Town squares emptied except for the buzz of conversation and the jostle of those boarding free buses, courtesy of Sitia’s municipality. By breakfast, Heraklion’s cultural center was a sea of familiar faces: hoteliers with rolled-up sleeves, farmers, hospitality workers, and young parents balancing babies and banners.

Sitia’s mayor, Giorgos Zervakis, made it clear: if the Prime Minister happened to be in Agios Nikolaos that day—well, Sitia’s people planned for a meeting there too. “Sitia will be present. Our city demands the VOAK extend to our doorsteps,” he declared, his tone more determined than dramatic.

When a City Stands Still, the Message Gets Loud

By noon, every open shop and bustling café back in Sitia had fallen quiet—shuttered in support. Even the Sitia Traders’ Association president, Kostis Papadakis, rallied every business to join. It wasn’t out of desperation; it was pride and unity. By protesting together, the people of Sitia showed what happens when a whole town stands up for itself (and yes, tourists noticed).

The protest stretched beyond banners and chants. This was a single, clear message: a fair, fully connected VOAK isn’t just a line on a map. It’s about local life, safety in journeys, and keeping Sitia open to the world.

What Comes Next?

Sitia’s movement can’t be boxed up and marked as just another protest. It’s a Cretan story—loud, sunlit, and impossible to ignore. The Agios Nikolaos–Sitia road remains outside the official project, but local resolve only deepens. The campaign continues: smiles, bright shirts, and all, under the unwavering motto “Sitia for VOAK.”

For visitors, it’s another layer to the island’s myth. You may come for the beaches, but stay long enough and you’ll see a city move as one. Sitia’s people want travelers to know: they’re fighting for fair access—not just for themselves, but for every guest drawn to this unspoiled corner of Crete.

Μαζική κάθοδος Σητειακών στο Ηράκλειο για τη σύνδεση με τον ΒΟΑΚ – «Σητεία τώρα ή ποτέ»