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ABOUT CRETE ISLAND

CRETE,KRETA, KRITI ISLAND

Crete is the biggest island in Greece. It is situated among Aegean and Libyan Sea. It is the crossroad between East and West, Africa and Europe. Crete Island is one of the largest islands of the Mediterranean Sea covering a total area of 8,336 km2 (3,219 sq mi) It measures 260 kilometres long from end to end and 60 kilometres wide at its widest point. The glories of Crete’s Minoan past remained hidden until British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans made his dramatic discoveries at Knossos in the early 1900s. Crete was the center of Minoan Civilization the earliest high culture in all Europe. Minoans built the first palace ever built in Europe the Minoan Palace The term ‘Minoan’ was coined by Evans and derived from the King Minos of Greek mythology. Nobody knows what the Minoans called themselves

Crete is divided in four prefectures. From west to east:
  • Chania Prefecture
  • Rethymno Prefecture
  • Heraklion Prefecture
  • Lasithi Prefecture

CRETE Heraklion

Heraklion or Iraklion or Candia is the capital of Heraklion regional unit. The ruins of Knossos, which were excavated and restored by Arthur Evans, are nearby. The Heraklion International Airport is named after Nikos Kazantzakis. Heraklion is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island. The first European civilisation, the Minoan civilisation, flourished on this land 5000 years ag During the last 20 years the city has made remarkable progress in the academic and technological fields. Heraklion has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with clear skies. Dry hot days are often relieved by a system of seasonal breezes. Winters are mild with relatively little rain and rare frosts.

Lassithi

Lassithi is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete, to the east of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli.The mountains include the Dikti in the west and the Thrypti in the east. The Sea of Crete lies to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. Lasithi is separated into 8 municipalities: Ag.Nikolaos,Ierapetra, Sitia, Neapoli, Lasithi Plateau, Makrys Gyalos, Lefki and Itanou. Lassithi plateau is 11 kilometres on the east-west axis and 6 kilometres on the north-south - an area of 25 square kilometres. Visiting the villages of Lassithi, you will explore the tradition of Crete mixed with the wonderful natural environment. Lassithi has many amazing beaches along its coastline. Most of the beaches are sandy, some of them well protected from the winds as they are found within small, protected coves. Swimming starts earlier in the South, where the weather is a bit warmer than in the North. The most famous beaches are in the areas of Elounda, Vai, Makrygialos and Ierapetra.

Festos Disk

The Phaistos Disc is an enigma, an circular clay disc covered with inscribed symbols on both sides that are unlike any signs in any writing system. It was discovered in the ancient city of Phaistos in Southern Crete in 1908.

FESTOS DISK

KNOSSOS PALACE

Knossos 5km from Heraklion, was the capital of Minoan Crete and the Palace of Knossos is the island’s major tourist attraction

KNOSSOS

HERAKLION,IRAKLION

Heraklion or Iraklion or Candia is the capital of Heraklion regional unit

HERAKLION CRETE

 

SAMARIA GORGE

Enjoy this excursion to the prized national forest of Crete, the Samaria Gorge - the longest and most beautiful gorge in Europe.

SAMARIA CHANIA

 

Image of the Phaistos(Festos) Palace in Crete

PHAISTOS