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Crete
is
the
biggest,
arguably
the
most
beautiful
and
certainly
one
of
the
most
fascinating
of
all
the
Greek
islands.
Small
wonder
it
accounts
for
a
quarter
of
the
entire
tourist
trade
of
Greece
.
It's
the
birthplace
of
European
civilisation
- an
island
practically
sinking
beneath
the
weight
of
its
world-famous
historic
sites.
Even
if
you're
not
the
slightest
bit
interested
in
archaeology
or
history
the
ancient
treasures
of
Crete
are
guaranteed
to
blow
your
mind.
But
if
all
you
crave
is a
gorgeous
sun-drenched
beach,
a
cheap
souvlaki
dinner
and
an
all-night
disco.well,
you'll
still
come
away
satisfied.
It's
the
most
southerly
island
in
Greece
,
bordered
by
the
Sea
of
Crete
to
the
north
and
the
Sea
of
Libya
to
the
south.
You
can
reach
it
by
ferry
but
it's
a
gruelling
14-hour
journey
from
the
mainland
port
of
Piraeus
.
Most
package
holidaymakers
fly
into
one
of
the
two
international
airports
- at
Iraklio,
serving
the
east
of
the
island,
and
Hania
in
the
north
western
corner.
There's
a
smaller
airport
at
Rethymno,
at
the
centre
of
the
northern
coastline,
which
has
domestic
flights
to
and
from
Athens
,
Rhodes
and
Santorini.
Your
holiday
here
can
be
whatever
you
want
it
to.
There
are
monasteries,
unspoilt
mountain
villages,
stunning
gorges
and
magnificent
scenery
enough
to
satisfy
the
hardiest
hiker
and
most
avid
explorer.
Despite
the
arrival
of
the
package
holiday
industry
in
force
on
the
island,
there
are
still
lovely
isolated
spots
to
tempt
the
independent
traveller.
Some
budget
backpackers
brave
reprisals
from
the
local
police
and
camp
out
on
the
island's
more
remote
beaches.
Wealthier
visitors
wing
their
way
here
by
private
helicopter
for
some
serious
self-indulgence
at
one
of
the
island's
many
deluxe
hotels.
Whatever
category
you
fall
into
-
self-sufficient
"Lonely
Planet"
backpacker
or
money-to-burn
"can't
last
a
minute
without
my
laptop"
businessman
-
the
highlight
of
your
holiday
will
undoubtedly
be a
visit
to
the
breathtaking
Minoan
Palace
of
Knossos.
The
secrets
of
the
ancient
but
highly
sophisticated
Minoan
civilisation
lay
hidden
for
nearly
3,000
years
until
a
British
archaeologist
started
excavating
the
palace
site
in
the
early
1900s.
The
treasures
uncovered
by
his
team
together
represent
one
of
the
most
important
archaeological
discoveries
the
world
has
ever
seen.
Where
else
can
you
see
Europe
's
oldest
throne,
still
in
its
original
place,
and
the
en-suite
bathroom
of a
Minoan
queen
who
had
the
honour
of
gracing
the
world's
first
ever
"flushing"
toilet?
The
biggest
sceptic
and
hardest
heart
couldn't
fail
to
be
moved
by
this
island
where
myths,
legends,
recorded
history
and
fairytales
have
merged
into
one
giant
Disney-style
world
of
irresistible
fact
and
fiction.
Only
on
Crete
is
it
possible
to
visit
the
reputed
birthplace
and
hideout
of
Zeus,
the
king
of
the
gods.
The
package
holiday
industry
has
well
and
truly
zapped
Zeus
in
terms
of
being
the
island's
dominant
force
these
days.
Modern
hotels,
apartment
blocks
and
every
imaginable
tourist
facility
have
sprung
up
along
the
northern
coastline
to
the
east
of
the
capital
Iraklio.
But
Crete
's
ancient
history
and
the
extraordinary
beauty
of
the
island's
diverse
landscape
have
their
own
special
magic
which
will
cast
a
spell
over
you
despite
the
increasing
ravages
of
mass-market
tourism. |
