| Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean.It is outstanting not only on account of its geographical situation but, primarily because of its long history and exceptional cultural contribution.The distance fro Piraeis is 175 nautical miles. Crete has a 1046 km of coastline with beautiful coves and sandy beaches.The climate of Crete is considered one of the mildest and healthiest in Europe. The island is very mountainous. Deep gorges split its huge mountains ,Lefka Ori, Psiloritis, Dikti leading to fertile valleys, creating a laldscape full of surprises, which changes minute by minute, here bare and wild, there green and peaceful. More than 3000 large and small caves, several of them with impressive stalactites and stalagmites and of special interest, honeycomb the mountains. Untrodden rocky coasts, vast sandy beaches, and pebbled shores define the seaside. Dry-stone farm buildings, villages perching on high pateaus, monasteries, isolated castles and chapels dot the countryside. |
| The unique gographical position of the island, in the centre of the Meditrrranean, played a deciseve role in its historical development for it has always been a crossroads of civilisations, as well as a focal point for all manner of invaders. During its turbulent history it suffered numerous plunderous incrursions and conquests. The island was first inhabited in Neolithic times 6000 BC. Between 2800 and 1400 BC a unique civilisation developed there, one of the most important in the ancient world and called Minoan afte the mythical King Minos. There were gradual changes in the ensuing centuries up until 69 BC when Crete was captured by the Romans, becoming part of the African province of Cyrenia. In 330 AD it became a province of the Byzantine Empire and its centre, as in Roman times, was Gortyn.This phase of prosperity continued until 824 AD when it was conquered by Saracens who set sail from Crete on their hostile sorties against other provinces of the Byzantine Empire.Withe the fallow of Constantinople to the Franks in 1204 it came into the hands of Venice which purchased the isle for a token sum form Boniface Monferrat, to whom it had been presented by the Latin emperor of Constantinople, From 1669 till 1898 the island was occupied by the Turks, inransigent and rapacious masters. Crete took part in the 1821 War and in the Protocol of 1830 was seded to Mehmet Ali of Egypt who held it until 1841. There followed another period of internal strife until 1879 rebellion, after which Prince George was appointed Governor General.In 1912 Crete was incorporated in the Greek state. Among Cretan distinguished in the world of art and letters are Domenicus Theotokopoulos El Greco and Nikos Kazatzakis, and in the history of Modern Greece the politicians Eleftherios and Sophocles Venizelos. |
| Must see: Villages drowing in green, olive green, vine green, citrus green, and vegetable green, add living colour to the sometimes harsh views. Villages in which traditional Cretan rhythms of life have not changed in centuries: coffee under the shade of old trees, traditional dances, sousta and pentozali to the sound of the Cretan lyre and the sweetness of Cretan wine. Old cities hide behind walls, their complicated narrow alleys winding past squares, churches, and the ruins of palaces. The main cities of Hania, built on the top of ancient Kydonia, picturesque Rethymno, noisy Heraklio, cosmopolitan Agios Nikolaos and beautiful Sitia, grew up on the north side of the island and only peaceful Ierapetra is on the shores of the Lybian Sea, facing Africa. Knossos, Faistos, Malia, Zakros, Aptera, Driros, Gortys, Arkadi: names which played an important role in the history of the island from neolithic to modern times. All of the above compose the multimensional image of Crete, on whose soil flourished one of the most important civilisations, the Minoan, and was the birthplace of such important artists and writers as El Greco, Damaskinos, Kazatzakis , and many others.The Minoan Palace in Knossos, the site and Palace in Phaistos, the Vai bay, Samaria Gorge, Omalos, Anogeia.Chersonissos, Mallia, Viannos, Moires, Matala, Tymbaki, Arkadi, Aghia Galini, Aghia Roumeli, Frangokastello, Souya, Theriso, White Mountains, Psiloritis, Sfakia, Ierapetra, Lasithi , Palaiochora, Elounda, Pachia Ammos, Zakros, Kolimbari are are only a few of the nurmerous sites and beaches visitor can see and enjoy in Crete. |
