Crete Island

Crete is the largest and most well-known island in the world and we're not taking a chance calling it that! It is located in the southernmost part of Europe very close to the coasts of Africa so much so that on particularly clear days you can see the coasts of Libya and Egypt, where the sun always shines for many months and the temperatures are mild .

Describing Crete island in a few lines is very difficult, it is immense and has so many things to talk about that it would never end. Let's say first of all that it is part of the Greek nation but that differs from the other islands in many respects, it is a world in itself with traditions, customs and traditions that can only be found here and this is also the beauty of it.

With an extension of three hundred square kilometers it is a continuous change of landscape, in Crete there are beaches that are in no way envious of the most famous tropical ones, ancient villages with a historical weight of universal importance, unique archaeological sites in the world, deep gorges, canyons, fertile plains, hidden coves, expanses of ancient olive trees, super modern towns, traditions and customs that have not changed over the centuries, what more could you ask for.

Crete's history is perhaps one of the most complete and well-known which have decisively influenced the entire island culturally. We start with the Minoan civilization born in 2700 BC, the most remembered with its legendary King Minos and the most splendid period of Crete which, in addition to having a great commercial importance, helped to increase its magnificence with stupendous palaces and sculptures such as the legendary Palace of Knossos, the palace of Phaistos or the palace of Zakros. We then move on to the Doric and Hellenistic period where the Cretans put up a strong resistance to the invasion but which they failed to maintain, falling into the hands of the King Argos and the King of Sparta who divided the territory. In the Hellenistic era they were servants of Alexander the Great but on his death internal discord began with the conclusion of the division into city leagues of Knossos, Gortyna, Festus and the League of the Mountains. Then came the Romans who, having failed in the first attempt with Mark Antony on Philip V of Macedonia, took control of Crete in 80 BC thus becoming a province of the Roman Empire under Diocletian who established Gortyna as the capital instead of Cyrene in Libya. The Byzantine era that comes after the Roman domination which in the meantime evangelized the island and legend attributes the merit to St. Paul who landed in Crete after a shipwreck, gave splendid monasteries such as Arkadi, Toplu as well as all the art and architecture still present today. Could the Venetians have been missing? Of course not! In the 10th century, attracted by its favorable geographical position, they bought Crete for 1000 silver marks, thus changing its history forever. Heraklion becomes the economic capital while Rethymno and Chania are transformed into fortresses but despite the economic and social improvement, there are many rebels who organize popular revolts. In the fourteenth century, the orthodox church regains its powers making it grow artistically and scientifically. And here we are at one of the ugliest and bloodiest chapters of Crete, the Ottoman rule. In 1645 Yussut Pasha with an army of 60,000 men occupies Chania. The Turkish siege lasts for 21 years and is recognized as the most important Venetian resistance on a par with that of Famagusta in Cyprus. They weren't happy years, Christians were perennially persecuted and numerous churches were transformed into mosques. Despite everything the Cretans opposed the conversion thus managing in 1840 to declare themselves independent but paying a very high price in human lives. Finally in 1898 after difficult years and marked by the loss of many people Crete becomes an independent state but always under the Sultan and the great European powers. The Cretans were not happy with this new idea so much that they rose up with the Revolution of Ieriso in 1905. However, everything was resolved in 1913 with the father of the Greek constitution Eleftherios Venizelos when Greece finally returned free. It then ends with the Second World War when the Germans occupy Crete but once again the free spirit of the Cretans opposes it and after four years of German domination the island definitively conquers its independence under the Greek flag but maintaining a certain autonomy and above all respect for one's traditions.

Speaking properly of the island instead, remember to go for a ride in the beautiful and well-kept Chania also called the Cretan Venice with its ancient pastel-colored houses that line the seafront. A very lively city where you can sit at a coffee and let the weather pass by, or take a tour inside it by visiting the Municipal Market or the Mosque and the beautiful neighborhoods of Tobakaria, Topanas and Spantzia.

Also in the northwest side of Crete there are the most beautiful beaches that you have to see at least once in your life. The Elafonissis beach, the  Falassarna beach and the scenic Balos Lagoon just to name a few with coasts of soft and very white sand bathed by a sea that will leave you breathless.

The central part of the island is instead characterized by mountains. If you love trekking, the Samaria Gorge is a unique and incredible spectacle of nature. 16 kilometers long with its caves where mythology tells that in one of them Zeus was raised by the Nymphs. Or again for the enthusiasts of walking and discovery the Lefka mountains which host the second longest canyon in all of Europe.

In the south-west, on the other hand, the atmosphere is completely different, here there is really the real free-range and hard-core Crete. Here there is a different kind of tourism, only those who love nature and archaeological sites come here and have no particular interest in nightlife. Like losing the wonderful Preveli beach and its Monastery, or spending a couple of days in the mythical Matala village and still arriving as far as Loutro to then reach many hidden places on foot through an incredible landscape.

In the north-eastern part, however, we meet the capital Heraklion, a city full of life and typically touristic where every year in the summer period it is besieged by people from all over the world. Still on the coast, there are also Hersonissos and Malia, two perfect locations for those who love the night out but don't want to give up the sea, to then continue towards Agios Nikolaos which, when seen, reminds us a bit of our Venice with its center of stone alleys and houses traditional all around the Voulismeni lake which passes between the settlement and then flows into the sea.

In the southern part to the east as many wonders will fill your day such as the town of Ierapetra or the fantastic Vai beach with its forest, or the Chrissi islet with its cedar and juniper trees shaped by the wind, and still the site archaeological site of Gortyna or the Zarkos Palace, in short, you will only be spoiled for choice.

Certainly a single holiday is not enough to admire this beautiful island, you have to go back, go back and go back again and perhaps it will not be enough anyway