DK Travel : Crete

Although it could not be more Greek, Crete is really a country within a country, with its own history, folklore and traditions. It was the birthplace of Europe’s oldest civilization, the enigmatic Minoan culture which flourished over 4,000 years ago. Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, Venetians and Turks also left their mark. This rich human heritage is set against the backdrop of magnificent mountain scenery and beaches lapped by a deep blue sea.

Agia Galini

A small resort (see Agia Galini) that has made catering to the party crowd its specialism. Things get lively by 11pm in a cluster of bars and dance clubs around the harbour, where you can club-hop until the early hours.
Agia Roumeli-Chora Sfakion

After marching up and down the Samaria Gorge, your journey can be extended along the coast by hopping on one of several daily boats that potter eastwards. All end up at the small port of Chora Sfakion.
Agia Roumeli-Loutro

This one-day walk follows a path along the pebbly beach of Agios Pavlos, then climbs the steep “Marble Stair” onto a high, pine-wooded plateau, descends into the Aradena Gorge, and finally zig-zags down a steep cliff to the delightful holiday village of Loutro.
Agia Triada

A treasury of Minoan relics, including tablets inscribed with the still undeciphered Minoan Linear A script, has been discovered on this site of an L-shaped Minoan villa, built about 1700 BC. The site was later occupied by Mycenaean settlers, who built a megaron (chief’s hall) and a village with a unique row of porticoed shops.
Agia Triada

Excavated by Italian archaeologists at the beginning of the 20th century, Agia Triada is smaller than other Minoan sites such as Knosos and Phaestos and was probably an aristocratic villa or a royal summer palace. Some of the finest Minoan pottery, including three carved stone vases, was discovered here and is displayed in the Irakleio Archaeological Museum. Agia Triada is only 3 km (2 miles) west of Phaestos, so can easily be visited on the same day. Because Agia Triada receives fewer vistors than the larger sites, you can explore its honeycomb of stone corridors, stairs and courtyards at your own pace.
Agioi Deka (Ten Saints)

Ten Cretan martyrs killed for their faith by the Romans have their church near Gortys.
Agioi Deka Church

This 13th-century Byzantine Church of the Ten Saints stands on the spot where ten Cretan Christians were martyred by the troops of the Roman Emperor Decius in AD 250. A striking icon depicting the ten saints with golden haloes is displayed in the nave.
Agios Eftihios (St Eustacius)

St Eustacius is especially popular in southwest Crete, where many chapels and children bear his name.
Agios Frangiskos

Follow Ethnikis Antistasis north to the Church of Agios Frangiskos (St Francis), which was formerly part of a Venetian Roman Catholic monastery. The doorway is beautifully carved and the basilica is still used by the town’s small Roman Catholic community.
Agios Giorgios (St George)

The patron saint of shepherds is greatly esteemed and, as a warrior saint, is doubly popular.