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Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957) is best known outside Greece for the novel Alexis Zorbas , which is set in Crete during the early 20th century. The book was filmed in 1964 as Zorba the Greek , starring Anthony Quinn in the title role. Kazantzakis’ outspoken humanism led the Orthodox church to regard him as a heretic. The author was born in Mirtia, and a small museum in the village (in the Kazantzakis family home) is crammed with his manuscripts and diaries, film posters, photos and other memorabilia.

Minos, King of Crete and both patron and tormentor of the ingenious Daedalos, appears in the Greek myths as a tyrant. In fact, the legendary Minos is probably a composite of many Minoan kings, whose power and wealth were remembered long after their civilization fell.

Crete was united with Greece in 1913. In 1923, 30,000 Muslim Cretans were expelled from Crete.

Virtually 24-hour drinking is the main selling point of this bar, attracting those who like to party all night and sleep on the beach all day.

This potent red wine with a 13 per cent alcohol content comes from Romeiko grapes grown in Crete’s north west.

The guitar, whether acoustic or (more often) electric, has sadly ousted many of the older instruments and, even at village festivals, weddings and saints days, has become a standard member of the Cretan ensemble.

Just outside Irakleio, Knosos is by far the most striking of the ancient Minoan palace ruins on Crete. Dating back more than 3,500 years, it was destroyed, probably by a volcanic eruption, around 1450 BC and not rediscovered until the late 19th century (see Ancient Knosos).

Ioannis Kokolakis bottles wines made from liatiko grapes grown in the Agrilos vineyards, not far from Siteia, which produce a light, dry red wine.

Old-fashioned rosaries made from olive wood, amber, jet, turquoise etc.

The monks of Koudouma live in enviable isolation in a tiny monastery on a sandy beach fringed with palm trees.