Municipality of Archanes-Asterousia

The Municipality of Archanes-Asterousia is a municipality of Crete, established after the administrative reform of the the Kallikratis Programme, by merging three previous municipalities: Asterousia Municipality, Nikos Kazantzakis Municipality, and Archanes Municipality. The Municipality now spans a surface of 335,38 square kilometres, and it 55 villages are inhabited by 16.692 people according to the 2011 census. Its administration and financial departments are based in the village Peza. 

The Municipality is located in the Herakleion regional unit, occupying a long strip of land starting near the city of Herakleion and reaching towards the south until it meets the Libyan See. The Municipality is mainly semi-mountainous with a detailed and varied terrain. Its main mountains are Juktas and Asterousia. Another important element is the Messara Plain, where many agricultural activities take place. The Municipality is developing rapidly, firmly and actively supporting Alternative Tourism initiatives and actions.