Crete





Crete is the most southerly of the Greek islands, long and thin and extending
250 kilometres from east to west with over 1000 kiolmetres of coastline.




    

  1. History
    2. 
Crete was inhabited by the highly sophisticated Minoans who built the palace
of Knosos.
Knosos, was home to King Minos and the Minotaur, one of the most interesting
and evocative sites from ancient Greece.
As Crete is so large, each of the provinces has its own character.

  2. Irakleio province
    3. 
Irakleio is the most visited of the provinces.
It embraces the four great Minoan sites of Knosos, Faistos, Malia and Agia Triada.
Malia is one of the biggest resorts in Greece with video bars, nightclubs and fast
food outletslining the strip from the main coast raod right down to the beach.
This is in direct comparison to Malia palace, one of the less spectacular palaces
of ancient Greece.
Iraklio or Heraklion, is the fifth largest city in Greece and is the capital of Crete.





  3. Lasithiou province
    4. 
This eastern province of Crete boasts plenty of attractions, both scenic and cultural.
The tourist mecca is Agios Nikolaos which overlooks the beautiful gulf of Mirampellou.
To the south lie the remains of the palace of Zakros, one of the major Minoan sites on
the island and another leagacy of ancient Greece.
Visit the Diktaio Antro (Diktaean Cave).
According to myth, the cave was the birthplace of Zeus. His mother Rhea hid him from
his father, Kronos who would have eaten him like his earlier siblings..or so the
ancient Greek myth goes.

  4. Rethymno province
    5. 
This province is the smallest and most mountainous of Crete's four provinces.
Between the peaks of Psiloreitis and Levka Ori lies the beautiful Amari valley.
Rethymno is a delightful historic town and the main attraction of the north coast.
It was of little significance until the 16th and 17th centuries when it prospered
under the influence of the Venetians. Many Byzantine scholars sought refuge here
following the fall of Constantinople.
Turkish rule lasted 250 years and the old quarter retains a good deal of Turkish
and Venetian features and influence.
The best cultural landmarks are the famous monasteries of Arkadi and Preveli.





  5. Chania province
    6. 
The most westerly province in Crete, Chania provides stunning scenery but no
archaeological sites from ancient Greece.
To the south, the mountains drop suddenly into the Libyan Sea.
Wonderful gorges of the White Mountain are ideal for walking, especially the 
Samaria gorge which is a major attraction in Crete.
Chania was the ancient city of Kydonia which became the most important city in Crete
after the destruction of Knosos.
Visit the Byzantine museum or the Mouseio Nautiko.



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