At A Glance
Crete’s varied and enchanting landscape offers the type of natural beauty that can expected of the mythical birthplace of Zeus himself. The largest of the Greek islands, Crete presents a tremendous opportunity to tap into the eco-tourism, history-seeking, and beach vacationing markets.
From fine white sand beaches to forested mountaintops, Crete is an ideal vacation spot for anyone with a sense of adventure.
Κρήτη
Beauty And Adventure
Attractions
- Chania Venetian Lighthouse
- Balos Beach and Lagoon
- Samaria Gorge National Park
- Manousakis Winery
- Lake Kournas
Famous Natives
- Doménikos Theotokópoulos (El Greco)
- Zeus
- Artemis
- Apollo
History
The island of Crete is full of legends, most notably being the birthplace of Zeus. Also, Crete was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, was the site of the Minotaur and labyrinth, and was the site of Icarus' close encounter with the sun.
The island of Crete was the center of Minoan civilization in Bronze-Age Greece that flourished from approximately 2200 to 1450 BCE. With a total area of 8,336 square-kilometers, it is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
The inhabitants of ancient Crete -- who we call Minoans -- produced a decentralized culture based on the abundance of the land's natural resources and on intense commercial activity.
The Minoans developed significant naval power and for many centuries lived in contact with all the major civilizations of the time without being significantly threatened by external forces. Their commercial contact with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia undeniably influenced their own culture, and the Minoan civilization in turn appeared as the forerunner of the Greek civilization. The Minoans are credited as the first European civilization.
During World War II, Crete played a major role in the war. The resistance that the people of Crete offered caught the Germans completely off guard. Despite this, eventually all of Crete fell under German occupation.
Although there are tourist attractions all over the island, the inhabitants still keep their old traditions and customs. Traditions remain very important for them in their everyday life.
