It is probably the largest town in the Regional section Municipality of Heraklion of Kallikaratis, located 19.4 km from Heraklion and is built at the northwestern foot of the Rocca hill (height 507, 40 meters) in altitude of 350 meters.

At an altitude of 244 meters and a distance of about 10 km the road Iraklion - Viannos (detour from the new highway after BI. IP. Heraklion) is the Skalani Kallikratous belonging to the Municipality of Heraklion.

Over the village of Ano Asites, in a green area, is located the monastery of St. George Gorgolaini or Gorgoleimona as it is known today. Refrain from Heraklion 24 km and works from the years of Venetian rule.

The monastery of Paliani is one of the oldest if not the oldest monastery in Crete. The first centre of the monastic church built here belongs to the type of early Christian three-aisled, wooden roof, Royal, probably a type that dominated in the early Christian years (5th-6th century) in Crete.