CRETE

Crete (in Greek Κρήτη) is the largest island in Greece and takes its name from the large amount of clay present in its soil. It is the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and is located in the southernmost point of Greece.

It can be reached both by sea, from the Greek port of Piraeus, and by plane ("Kazantzakis" international airport in Heraklion; “Daskalogiannis” international airport in Chania; and the domestic airport near Sitia).

It has an area of 8,336 sq. km and a population of approximately 620,000 inhabitants.

Although Crete is a Greek island, in some aspects it resembles a country in its own right due to its size and the variety of its landscape, and also, let's not forget, because it is the birthplace of the first great civilization of the Mediterranean, the Minoan civilization, which originated in 3000 BC.

The island is primarily mountainous with three major massifs: the Lefka Ori (2,452 m), the Idi Oros (2,456 m) and the Dikti Oros (2,148 m). The northern area is partly flat, and its Mediterranean climate has fostered the birth of cities and tourist centers. The southern zone, instead, has high and rocky coasts, which are arid and offer very few ports. In the interior, however, there are beautiful canyons. Due to this particular layout of the territory, the island is mainly populated in the north, where a large road that runs parallel to the sea connects it from east to west. Crete is 260 kilometers long and is only about 300 kilometers away from Libya.

The main crops on the island are grapes, olives and oranges. The typical products are textiles, embroideries, icons, ceramics, silverware and the traditional Cretan brandy called "raki".

Crete is subdivided into four prefectures, starting from west to east: Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lasithi. The capital of the island is Heraklion, the third largest Greek city, where you can find the main port.

The sea is pristine with some truly Caribbean-like beaches.

Due to its strategic geographical position, at the crossroads of three continents, the island has often been invaded and has had so many different civilizations that even in its architecture the most diverse styles (Byzantine, Venetian, Turkish...) are sometimes present, all in the same building. The charm of Crete, beyond the tourist invasion that now constantly assails it, is found in its great archaeological sites linked to the myths of the past, its monasteries to be discovered in the middle of forests and mountains, its fortresses, its sea and, above all, its folklore. The Cretans continue to keep alive their most ancient traditions.

As regards art, it is worth mentioning the famous Cretan School of painting, the painter El Greco, the theatrical works, and the great writer Nikos Kazantzakis.

The network of roads on the island is concentrated mainly on the northern coast and is quite efficient. A highway connects Agios Nikolaos to Kastelli (Kissamos), passing through Heraklion. In the south, the roads are narrow and winding, due to the presence of mountains; and off the asphalt roads one must be extremely careful. Public means of transportation are widespread and connect the main places of interest on the island, but in summer they are also crowded, making it necessary to buy tickets in advance. In the big cities one can also find city buses. Moreover, it is possible to travel by cab (a cheap option) or rent a car.