Why should you choose Crete?

Why should you choose Crete?

The big island of Greece has its name origins in Nymph Kriti, the daughter of the King Asterion and Cretan moon Goddess Europa. The geographical location of Crete is favorable being at equal distances from three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa.

Crete, also called the island of gods, because is the place where Zeus was born (in a cave from Dikti mountain) and where he lived, the island where the brightest civilization flourished, the island where queens and kings who lived thousands of years ruled it through many storms just like a ship with skilled captains, which went straight on and reached nowadays unharmed. Their reputation reached the whole world: Nikos Kazantzakis (Zorba the Greek writer), Ioannis Kondilakis (writer and journalist), Vitsentzos Kornaros (Cretan Poet), Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco), El. Venizelor (Greek leader), Nikos Xilouris (Cretan composer and singer), Mikis Theodorakis (Cretan songwriter and composer).

God has blessed these places with natural resources, landscapes, sometimes almost unreal: high mountains, sprinkled with deep caverns and cool gorges, unexplored caves, fertile soil, luxuriant vegetation, agitated and also calm sea, wild beaches with golden sand and generally a nice climate that invites to relaxation.

Crete is an oasis, where tourists can have rest and also have a lot of fun, where they can enjoy the presence of Cretans, friendly loving people, proud and passionate, with a very strong character (Zorba the Greek showed to the entire world how Cretans are) in every of these spots:

1. Chania region located on the west of the island with mountains, plains, spectacular gorges, beaches with sands and also places full of history

• Chania with its Venetian fortress, the old city with the five districts: Splatzia, Kastelli, Topana, The Jewish district and Sintrivani, Museum of Archeology, History Museum, Fleet Museum, also can be seen here
• Trips and places to visit from Chania: the village Therissos; Chrisopigi Monastery-Moyrnies- Vila Koukounara; Chania- Platanias-Maleme-Tavronitis-Paleochora and return on Sougia-Radovani-Maralia-Epanoxori- Saint Eirini-Prases-Alikianos;  Chania to Chrisoskalitissa Monastery-Elafonisos (the pink sand beach) and return through Elos-Topolion narrow path;  Chania to Samaria Gorge (the Cretan goat kri-kri lives in the biggest gorge of Europe)- Loutro-Sfakia-Vrises; Chania- Aroni-Korakies- the bears cave Arkoudia- Souda- lke Kourna (the only lake of Crete)

2. Rethymno region located almost in the middle of Crete with a lot of mountains, touristic beaches and also wild ones. This region has four provinces: Milopotamou, Saint Vasilios, Amariou and Rethymnon

• Rethymnon is a touristic city, also many universities here, old city with its Fortetsa Citadel, the new city until Perivolia village, venetian building Lotzia, now Archeological Museum, Krini Rimonti fountain, Turkish school, Turkish Hammam, Saint Fragiskos Church, Church of Our Lady of the Angels  (or Little Virgin called by Cretans), Cathedral Great Saint Mary’s
• Trips and places to visit from Rethymnon: Arkadi Monastery- the symbol of Cretans freedom; Asi Gonia-Miriokefala; Kourtaliotiko Gorge- Preveli Monastery- Plakias Gorge- Kotsifou; Amariou Valley- Agia Galini-Spili; Margarites-Eleftherna-Anogeia (the biggest Cretan handcraft center)- Psilorotis Mountain- IdeoAndro Cave

3. Heraklion region located in the middle of the island, divided in six provinces: Temenous, Viannou, Maleviziou, Kenourgiou, Pediadas and Monofatsiou. The most important Minoan centers are here: Knossos, Festos, Malia, Gortis and Tilissos and also the most populated beaches. This region has the biggest valley of Crete Mesara (in the south), high mountains full of Mediterranean cypresses, or rocky and barren mountains, hills with trees full of outgrowths, beaches and little bays and harbors

• Heraklion is the capital of Crete, a city where venetian and minoan culture combine, crowded and full of life, a youth boost provided by the young people who came here from Greece, Cyprus and not only. You can visit here: Venetian harbor, Koules Fortress and its Saint Markos lions, venetian walls with its 4 gates, nowadays only 2 remained: Chanion and New gate, the Saint Titos square and its church, a venetian building Lotzia-nowadays The Town Hall of Heraklion, Saint Markos Basilica, Lions Square and Morosini Fountain, Saint Katerina square, Liberty (Eleftherias) Square
• Dia island –a wild place, 30 minutes by boat where the only habitants are kri-kri goats
• Trips and places to visit from Heraklion: Knossos-Minos Palace-Kounavi-Peza-Mirtia; Archanes-Vathipetro-Epenosifi Monastery-Vianos-Kastelli-Thrapsano; Karteros-Kokkini Hani-Chersonissos-Stalida-Malia; Amoudara-Tylissos-Fodele-Agia Pelaghia-Lygaria; Zaros-Gortyna-Aghia-Triada-Phaistos (stone disc discovery with its indecipherable inscriptions)-Matala-Lendas

4. Lassithi region is located mostly in the mountains, a landscape with valleys and windmills, divided in four districts: Sitia, Vrachasiou, Merambelou and Ierapetra

• Vai Bay with the white or golden sand beach and the only natural palm forest from Europe. In the beginnings of the 60’s this lagoon landscape was used in Mutiny on the Bounty movie.
• The most important mountain Dikti, where the legend says that Zeus was born in Dikteon Cave and a walk by donkey
• Gaidouronisi (Chrisi) Island reachable from Ierapetra where you can find wild beaches and also two bars for tourists
• Spinalonga island
• Agios Nikolaos has a special charm. Here you can see Mirabelo castle build by Venetians for a panoramic view, nowadays Prefecture of the town, a lot of churches, the fishermen harbor
• Trips and place to visit from Agios Nikolaos: Elouda ( the most enchanting resort of Crete)- Spinalonga; Lassithi plateau; Ierapetra-Makry Gialos (one of the most important agriculture areas); Sitia-Toplou Monastery-Vai

Sneak peak: