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.

Top 10 Must-See Sights

1. Ancient Knosos
Knosos is among the most impressive relics of the ancient Mediterranean world. The Minoan palace was imaginatively reconstructed in the early 20th century.

2. Irakleio
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.

3. Irakleio Archaeological Museum
Crete’s leading museum houses amazing finds from Knosos and other great archaeological sites.

4. Chania
Once the island’s capital, this pretty little harbour town, with good beaches nearby and lots of open-air restaurants and shops, makes a great base for exploring Crete’s wild west.

5. Phaestos
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.

6. Rethymno
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.

7. Gortys
The bases of toppled Roman columns, the ruins of a Byzantine basilica, post-Minoan fortifications, an agora, acropolis and remains of temples to Athena and Apollo all hint at the chequered past of Gortys.

8. Samaria Gorge
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.

9. The Amari Valley and Mt Idi
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.

10. Gournia
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.

Discover more to see and do in Crete at www.traveldk.com/crete .

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