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.
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Knosos is among the most impressive relics of the ancient Mediterranean world. The Minoan palace was imaginatively reconstructed in the early 20th century (see Ancient Knosos).
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A good place to see a slice of everyday Greek street life, Crete’s capital is an eclectic mix of medieval Venetian fortifications, bustling markets and modern streets (see Irakleio).
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Crete’s leading museum houses amazing finds from Knosos and other great archaeological sites (see Irakleio Archaeological Museum).
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One of the most important Minoan palace sites in Crete, Phaestos is a fascinating maze of walls, stairways and courtyards on a hillside overlooking the Messara plain and the Libyan Sea (see Phaestos).
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Crete’s third largest city is packed with reminders of a multi-layered history. A huge castle, Turkish mosques, Venetian town-houses and bustling markets are part of the charm, along with a beach esplanade (see Rethymno).
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The “White Mountains” of the Sfakia region dominate southwest Crete. This rugged massif, most of which can only be explored on foot, as there are few roads, is cloaked in pine trees and traversed by the lovely Samaria Gorge (see Samaria Gorge).
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Old-fashioned villages, empty mountain panoramas and legendladen caves seem like part of a different world, and can easily be explored with a rented car or escorted coach tour (see The Amari Valley and Mt Idi).
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The best preserved Minoan town on Crete, has a honeycomb-like labyrinth of tiny houses and narrow lanes surrounding a small palace overlooking the Gulf of Mirabello (see Gournia).
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Palace of KnossosThe Palace of Knossos is the oldest settlement yet found which belonged to the Minoan civilisation and was excavated in the early 20th century. It is the place where the fabled minotaur of Ancient... Read more
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Archaeological MuseumThis important museum in Heraklion houses archaeological finds from all over Crete, and is second in importance only to the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Pride of place goes to the... Read more
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Historical Museum of CreteThe Historical Museum of Crete gathers together the riches of Crete's civilisation from the Byzantine and medieval periods. The collection comprises ceramics, folk art, models of the town and other... Read more
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Central MarketThe market of Heraklion is the richest in Crete and one of the finest in the Mediterranean. Visitors can buy souvenirs, gold, furs, clothes and delicious Cretan products such as olive oil, wine,... Read more
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