| Crete, in the southeast Mediterranean, is the | | | | holidays. |
| largest Greek island, measuring 250 kilometres | | | | Crete's 1100 kilometer of coastline offer over 100 |
| east to west and 60 kilometers at its widest | | | | beaches, making it the ideal holiday resort. Apart |
| point north to south. | | | | from its beaches and blue sea, it also offers |
| Crete is the birthplace of Zeus, Father of the | | | | walkers and nature-lovers its high mountains and |
| Gods of Olympus. It is also the cradle of Minoan | | | | 70 gorges. Pretty villages are waiting for you to |
| civilization, which dominated the Mediterranean | | | | visit and discover traditional Cretan architecture |
| from 2800 BC to 1400 BC and has left | | | | and local customs. |
| marvellous monuments such as the Palace of | | | | Scattered across Crete are archaeological sites |
| Knossos, as well as exquisite vases, frescos and | | | | and monuments from Minoan times and the |
| jewellery now housed in the museums of Crete. | | | | Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and |
| Crete is also the birthplace of the famous artist | | | | Turkish periods. The wonderful artefacts in the |
| Domenikos Theotokopoulos or El Greco; the poet | | | | museums, the churches and monasteries with |
| Vicenzos Kornaros, author of "Erotokritos"; the | | | | their centuries of history, all go to make up the |
| author Nikos Kazantzakis, best known for "Zorba | | | | jigsaw puzzle of Cretan history and culture. |
| the Greek" and "The Last Temptation"; and the | | | | Crete offers relaxing holidays in luxury resorts or |
| visionary politician Eleftherios Venizelos, who | | | | small family hotels, next to the sea or high in the |
| shaped the history of modern Greece | | | | mountains for those who prefer ecotourism. |
| Today Crete has a population of about 600,000, | | | | There is a lively nightlife for younger visitors to |
| mostly concentrated in the cities of the north | | | | Hersonissos, Malia and Platanias. For children and |
| coast: Heraklion, the largest city in the centre of | | | | those who want to feel like kids again, a day at a |
| the island, Chania and Rethymnon to the west, | | | | waterpark is just the thing. |
| and Agios Nikolaos and Sitia to the east. | | | | Crete also has a golf course, with more planned. |
| Crete is connected to mainland Greece and the | | | | Don't miss the CretAquarium in Gournes between |
| wider world through its three airports (two of | | | | Heraklion and Hersonissos, one of the largest |
| which are international) and its many ports. From | | | | aquaria in Southern Europe. |
| Crete you can easily visit the islands of the South | | | | If you haven't visited Crete yet, this summer |
| Aegean such as Santorini, Paros, Naxos and | | | | may be the time to come and discover this |
| Mykonos. There are also regular services to | | | | fascinating Greek island. If it captures your heart, |
| Rhodes and Karpathos, and of course Athens and | | | | don't worry. Come back next year and it will |
| Thessaloniki. In the summer, hundreds of flights | | | | welcome you once more with its smiling Cretan |
| bring about 3 million tourists to the island, many of | | | | sun, the sounds of the Cretan lyre, the scents of |
| whom return year after year. These people have | | | | orange blossom and jasmine, a slice of cool red |
| come to Crete, fallen in love with it and return | | | | watermelon and a glass of iced raki. |
| each year to rediscover its magic and enjoy their | | | | |