Crete

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National Holidays

Crete

Crete General Information

The island of Crete, largest in Greece (covering an area of 8,261kmˆ2) separates the Argean from the Libyan Sea and marks the boundaries between Europe and Africa. Majestic mountains rise in its centre - the White Mountains, Psiloritis, Dikti - full of legends and history. Its plateaus are split by deep gorges and end up in fertile valleys. The scenery is constantly changing. In one place harsh and barren, in another wooden and gently. Its villages smothered in greenery. Olive trees, orange groves, vineyards, early vegetable gardens. Old stone farmhouses, monasteries and villages perched on mountain ridges, castles and chapels forgotten on steep slopes. Shores lined with forbidding rocks, often inaccessible, but also lots of endless sandy or pebble beaches.

Crete is also renowned for its flora and fauna: Chestnut-tree, oak-tree and cypress forests. Palm tree forests and cedar forests. Medicinal herbs and aromatic shrubbery on the rocky slopes and steep mountain tops. The mountains are also home to the Cretan wild goat, known as kri-kri. The main cities-ports on Crete - Hania, Rethymno, Heraklio, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia - developed on the north side, which is more benign topographically. Ierapetra is the only port on the shores of the Libyan Sea, facing Africa.

The island with its clear, warm sea, boundless beaches lined with tamarisks, splendid plateaus and mild starry nights, has more to offer than its gorges, unscaled peaks and climate. Today it continues to be very much alive and to develop, in particular its cities which are changing in appearance from one day to the next, in contrast to the many villages where life goes on in the same rhythm it has for centuries.

Getting there

How to Get to Crete

By Air: Crete has airports near the towns of Chania, Heraklion and Sitia. It is linked by air to Athens as well as to the larger towns and major tourist destinations of Greece. The airports of Heraklion and Chania are also served by direct charter flights from abroad.

By Ship: From the port of Piraeus passenger ships leave daily for the ports of Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. The journey lasts from 4.5 up to 12 hours, depending on the type of vessel, the destination and the route followed. Crete is also linked to the south of the Peloponnese (Gythio, Neapoli) and Kythera and Antikythera islands by boats leaving from the harbour of Kissamos (Kastelli), with the Cyclades leaving from Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos, with the Dodecanese leaving from Agios Nikolaos and Sitia, as well as with the North Sporades (Skiathos) and Thessaloniki leaving from Heraklion.

Getting around

Getting Around Crete

By Bus: Crete has an extensive network of good roads and regularly scheduled buses

By Rented Car: Rent-a-car offices exist in almos tevery corner of the island. The principal ones have branches at the airport.

Things to do

Places to See in Crete

The evenings are enchanting spent next to the intoxicating aroma of a jasmine vine in an open-air cinema, seated in the comfortable chairs of a pastry shop, gathered round the table of a fish-taverna right by the sea, strolling in solitude on a remote, deserted beach, enjoying the rhythms of rock in a club or bar, or conversing in the spacious lounge of a luxury hotel.

Food

Where to Eat in Crete

There are hundreds of cafes where you can sit in the shade of a spreading plane, oak or mulberry tree and sip a "sweet" or "medium" coffee, or a glass of tsikoudia (raki), while playing a game of cards or tavli (backgammon).

There are dozens of tavernas and ouzeries serving some tasty mezes, a specialty of the area. Yogurt and honey, sweet tarts (kalsounia), pies made of wild green flavoured fennel, staka (butter with flour), rabbit stew, cheese pie from the Hora Sfakion, snails, boiled goat. In the city of Chania, at Malaxa, at Vrisses and other villages in the area, in Rethymno, in Heraklion and its villages, the whole district of Lassithi. Fish, sea urchins, octopus and cuttlefish cooked on charcoal and fried squid to be tasted at seaside tavernas. And everywhere the delectable Cretan wine. Every saint's feast day is celebrated with gusto at dozens of villages all over the island: all Crete throbbing to the sound of the Cretan lyre and the rhythm of the local dances, the pentozali and the sousta. Meanwhile the housewives are preparing a steamed Cretan pilaf and special holiday fritters (xerotigana).

Shopping

What to But in Greece

Crete's rich traditional in hand-woven fabrics, embroideries, wood-carvings and jewellery makes shopping a real temptation to the visitor. Examples, old and new, are to be found in the marketplace of the large cities and also in the villages, where you may have the chance to see these age-old crafts being practiced.

In the shop windows of bustling Iraklio, cosmopolitan Agios Nikolaos, picturesque Rathymno and enchanting Chania, elegant furs, precious jewellery and artistic silverware attract all visitors attention. In the shops of lovely Sitia and tranquil Ierapetra and in mountainous Anogia be impressed by the spread out patanies, traditional local woven fabrics in dazzling colours, and everywhere one sees skilfully crafted ceramics and leather goods. In the "Stivanadika" district of Chania, traditional boots (stivania) are still made in the old-fashioned way, because, through it may seem strange, even today there are Cretans who still wear their traditional costume. In the marketplace of the same city, as in every other market on the island., every kind of food, fruit and vegetable produced in the fertile valleys and mountain regions is laid out on display. Exotic avocados, Belgian endive and bananas, juicy oranges and fragrant melons, succulent figs and tasty prickly pears, delicious grapes, sweet tomatoes, tender cucumbers, fresh pickled wild greens from the hillsides, snails, mouth-watering sardines, tempting lobster, honey perfumed with thyme and wonderful cheeses can all be found.

National Holidays

Cultural Events in Crete

In Chania, in August, cultural events in Firka castle and the agrotourism fair "Agrarian August". In Rethymno, a major carnival and during the summer cultural events within the framework of the "Renaissance Festival" )in the Fortezza caste). In Heraklion, a festival by the same name (during the summer), with significant musical and theatrical events which are held in the N. Kazantzakis garden theatre and the Koules castle. In Agios Nikolaos, the Lato cultural events, in Sitia events within the framework of the Kornaria festival, and from 15 rill 20 August the Sultanina Feast. Moreover, in the towns and many villages of Crete folkloric and religious feasts are held all around the year, which are of particular interest and have a colour of their own.

Crete

Crete General Information

Getting there

How to Get to Crete

Getting around

Getting Around Crete

Things to do

Places to See in Crete

Food

Where to Eat in Crete

Shopping

What to But in Greece

National Holidays

Cultural Events in Crete

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