Crete, a few words about the island

The island:

Crete is located between three continents and is the southernmost part of the European Union. It is the largest island in Greece, boasting more than 1,500 villages, breathtaking scenery, endless beaches, 300 days of sunshine per year, varied landscape, delicious and renowned local cuisine, unique flora, magnificent gorges, picturesque old cities and imposing mountains. The distances on the island are short enough to guarantee that the visitor will get the most of the place. We should bear in mind that one visit here will never be enough since there will always be new places for you to discover.

The Cretans:

The mountainous terrain of the island, the healthy climate, the sunny weather and the generous land have forged the character of its inhabitants, making them proud, openhearted, easygoing, tolerant and great lovers of freedom. Cretan hospitality is a unique experience, which unfortunately won’t be included in any of the packages offered in the market of mass tourism today. It’s also very important to mention that despite the unprecedented economic and industrial growth the Cretan has managed to keep his traditions and culture intact. Cretan tradition has very deep roots in the past and expresses itself through popular art, local events, legends, music and can be easily sensed everywhere by those who really want it. Wonderful embroidery, glass making, jewelry making and pottery are sure to fascinate everyone.

Products of the land:

Crete is blessed with a wonderful nature, a moderate Mediterranean climate and fertile soil. Its products are of exceptional quality and include wine, olive oil of the finest quality in the world, fruits, vegetables, honey, indigenous wild herbs with medicinal properties and delicious dairy products. All of the above find an excellent use in the famous Cretan cuisine, which is certified to promote health and longevity.

Mythology:

According to the Greek mythology, Crete was the birthplace of Zeus, father of Gods and Athena, Goddess of wisdom. It was in Crete that Zeus decided to seduce Europa, princess of Phoenicia, giving her name to the entire continent. Their son Minos became the legendary king of Crete, ruling from the palace of Knossos, the mazelike architecture which inspired the legend of the Labyrinth. The legend has it that a bull headed creature, which fed on human flesh, Minotaur, lived there in captivity, prisoner of king Minos. The Labyrinth also became the prison of its architect Daedalus and his young son Icarus, who managed to escape from there using wings, made of wax, thus becoming the first people who succeeded in their attempt to fly.

History:

Crete is also the biblical Kaphtor, the cradle of the Minoan Civilization, the first sophisticated civilization in Europe. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians and Ottoman Turks have left their mark on an island that has been the meeting point and melting pot of ideas, civilizations and trends for thousands of years. The visitor of Crete can see innumerable monuments that indicate the ceaseless line of history that goes back to 7,000 BC. Minoan palaces, Greek and Roman antiquities, hundreds of Byzantine churches, Venetian houses, fortifications and castles, Turkish mosques and fountains, Synagogues and many traditional villages make Crete a unique time capsule where history is constantly unrolled before the eyes of the visitor.
…and there is so much more! The options offered to someone visiting the island are vast. This calls for a good planning and preparation on the part of the traveler. In this you are not alone! We will be happy to assist you in any way possible.