Just outside beautiful lerapetra to the west, you will come to Gra Lygia. The village's name comes from an old osier ("gria lygaria"), which was prob ably located near the village river.
Wander through the narrow streets of the picturesque village, and enjoy a swim in the organised, clean beaches.
In this area, you will notice a multitude of green houses, which are the main occupation of the locals. Greenhouse cultivations have actually made lerapetra one of the richest cities in Crete, if not the richest.
A Dutchman named Coopers introduced greenhouses and he is justly considered the area's benefactor. After his stop in a car accident, a statue of him was erected here.