Crete (Kriti) is the largest
Greek island. It is the border between the Aegean and the Libyan
seas and between Europe and Africa. The climate 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 landscape full of surprises,
which changes minute by minute, here bare and wild, there green
and peaceful.
More than, 3,000 large and small caves, several
of them with impressive stalactites and stalagmites honeycomb
the mountains. Untrodden rocky coasts, vast sandy beaches and
pebbled shores define the seaside. Dry-stone farm buildings,
villages perching on high plateaus, monasteries, isolated castles
and chapels dot the countryside. Villages, drowning in green,
olive green, vine green, citrus green and vegetable green add
living colour to the sometimes harsh views. Villages in which
life's traditional Cretan rhythms 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-ports like the port-town of Chania,
built on top of ancient Kydonia, picturesque
Rethymno, noisy Irakleio,
cosmopolitan Agios Nikolaos and beautiful Siteia,
grew up on the north side of the island and only peaceful Ierapetra
is on the shores the Libyan Sea, facing Africa. They are cities
living the fast pace of modern life, developing day by day.
Shops selling folk art, textiles, pottery, leather goods and
department stores with luxury items spring up like mushrooms.
The palace of Knossos
Greengrocers bring the rich produce of the fertile
valleys and greenhouses to the growing market places.
Days awash
In brilliant sunlight, emerald clear waters, star-spangled nights,
redolent with the smells of jasmine and honeysuckle, sometimes
restful and sometimes set to a rap beat. Knossos, Festos,
Malia, Zakros, Aptera,
Lato, Driros, Gortyna,
Arkadi: names, which played an important
role in the history of the island from Neolithic to modern
times. All of the above compose the multidimensional image
of Crete, on whose soil flourished one of the most important
civilizations, the Minoan, and was the
birthplace of such important artists and writers as El
Greco, Damaskinos, Kazantzakis,
Xilouris and many others.
