Heraklon is the island's capital while Chania is the island's world famous city. With its 1,046 kilometer-coastline, it is considered as the largest island in Greece and the second largest island in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Today, Crete is home for over 650,000 Greeks. The island's interesting fusion of character is evident on the architecture of its well-preserved buildings. Its great cities, Chania and Rethymnon, have buildings of Venetian architecture.

Aside from the buildings, many of its archeological and historical remains are exhibited at the local museums. Crete is considered as the home for the Minoan civilization, the center of Europe's ancient Byzantine civilization. While there are little known facts about ancient Cretan society, one thing is for sure. Crete is a home for some of the world's greatest legends as well as artists. Stories of King Minos, Theseus, Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus have taken place in this mystical land. Such mythical treasures are believed to have influenced the works of Homer and other famous poets of the ancient times. Although Crete is known for its ancient and natural treasures, it also has its remarkable local artists, writers and politicians to be proud of.

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Easter = Pascha in Greek

Easter:It is the most important celebration in Greece, the Orthodox Pascha. It is celebrated mostly after the Catholic one and it is a good time to visit Crete.They roast goats, drink wine and eat kalzone.Very interesting customs take place during the Holy Week and the long evening church services are attended by many people. Easter is the most important holiday of the year for the people of Greece. Easter is always in Spring and nature is most beautiful at that time. People gather in church every evening throughout Holy Week, especially on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and on Holy Saturday, the night of the Resurrection.

Festival of the Virgin Mary

It is a much more public celebration in the peak of the summer. The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary who is regarded in Orthodoxy to hold a special place not only as the Mother of Christ.Preparations for the feast actually begin on August 1st with a period of fasting for fourteen days, during which time the Orthodox faithful consume no meat, dairy, oil or wine. The festival also celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary - her ascent into heaven.

Independence Day/Feast of the Annunciation

The start of Greece's struggle for freedom against Turks in 1821 is celebrated. Military parades take place in major towns.A national festival commemorating the beginning of Greece's final struggle for independence in 1821. It is combined with the celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation, and so religious processions are followed by military parades in major towns, along with music and dancing all the way.

Moni Arkadio

The heroic fall of the Moni Arkadiou is celebrated. The Monastery of Arkadhi is 25km/15.5miles southeast of the city in the Psiloritis foothills,The horrific event marshaled international support for the long and bloody struggle in Greece against Ottoman rule. The monument outside of the entrance presents skulls of some of the victims with various relics of -the event housed in a small museum. Every 7-9 November the anniversary of the blast is 'celebrated'.

Sultanina

It is festival celebrating the grapes harvest, with music, dancing and local wine in the old Venetian fortress.Siteia's sultana festival is a relaxed celebration of the grape harvest, with music, dancing, lashings of local wine and nightly performances in the old Venetian fortress, now restored as an open air theatre.

Epiphany

Epiphany in Greece is called Theofania or Fota. The Enlightenment takes place in churches and the houses. On the 6th of January, the day of the Epiphany, celebrations are carried out near harbours with a large participation of people. The priest blesses the boats which gather in the main harbour of every city and he throws a cross in the sea. Then willingful swimmers try to catch the cross to become especially blessed. The one who brings the cross up to the surface will enjoy good luck and health for the entire year.

Apokries (Carnival) in Crete and Greece

Apokries Carnival is the festival of fun and masquerade for young and old. During carnival people dress up and enjoy the freedom of anonymity. The bars and clubs are packed, especially in the towns. Apokria ends on "Kathari Deftera" (Clean Monday), On Clean Monday, the "koulouma" are held. Everybody goes off to the countryside, eats Lenten food and flies kites. People used to make their own kites and it took a lot of skill to make your kite fly higher than the rest.

Kalikanztaroi, The Greek Christmas Sprites

Kalikanztaroi is the Greek Christmas Sprites The Greek Christmas Sprites are small blackish and hairy creatures with long arms and tail.Kalikantzaroi are nasty With a big saw, they compete to cut down the huge wooden stake which holds the earth in place.Much later the Byzantines celebrated with music, song and masquerading. All this activity would occur during the 12 days of Christmas and on the Epiphany. Then, after the big sanctification all would become calm again as the people settled back down into their normal routine.

CASTELLO - RESTAURANT

Tasty dishes that overcome the usual stuff. Castello cuisine includes greek and Mediterraneans tastes with emphasis on the flavorings and the delicious sauces. It also stands out for its creativity and excellent quality.Only the purest fresh Cretan products are used for preparation of the appetizers. Many desserts tastes such as the traditional Macedonian walnut-pie with cream, panacotta, Kazan die pie, and also various kinds of ice-creams will allure you to a sweet delirium.

APOSTOLIS FISH - RESTAURANT

provide fresh fish all catched in the Cretan sea, delicious sea food, tasty picks plus a great variety of special dishes, all cooked with local and pure materials. you can also have local fresh meat, lampchops, steak, meatballs, traditional greek souvlaki. A combination of excellence in taste and in quality in a nice and friendly environment proves to be perfect!! Traditional Cretan music accompanies your meal or dinner.

PARADISE TAVERN

The tavern Paradise is located in the beautiful surrounding of Kamari.It is just 5km from the city of Rethymno on the road to Chania. in Paradise - Tavern you will enjoy your meal viewing the sea.The combination of taste and quality in a fine environment will enchant you. Try the delicious salads, appetizers, sea food, fresh fish, but also grilled fresh meats from Crete.The fine olive oil used to cook all appetizers guarantees the fine quality and unique taste of all dishes.

VENETO RISTORANTE ITALIANO

Housed in a Venetian building of the 15th century, the nicely renovated Veneto Restaurant is one of the most authentic Italian restaurants of the town, offering classic Italian tastes, excellent first courses and fresh desserts and hosting an enviable wine cellar, with selections from both Greece and Italy.

EROTOKRITOS - TAVERN

Erotokritos tavern prepares delicious dishes that have fulfilled many famous persons preferences from the artistic and the political firmament throughout the world.In a beautiful place with main characteristic luxury and elegance, enjoy different kinds of cheese and dainties accompanied with wine and Greek music, juices made of fresh fruits, coffees, cocktails, pure wines etc. Taste the delicious salads and fish salads, various appetizers, seafood of all kinds, a suggestion is big shrimps (200 gr. each), The guarantee of excellent quality

THOLOS RESTAURANT

THOLOS Restaurant in a continual trying of a better quality meals and with the experience that we have of all these years from our service we offer to you a special menu based to Creta Diet Our meals are prepared with a traditional way which make them to be special and tasty.One visit will make you fanatic frequenters to it.!!!!

CAVO - D'ORO RESTAURANT

Cavo D'oro restaurant offers you tasteful tour in the world of the flavors with a number of delicious dishes inspired by the Mediterranean and the international cuisine.In a beautifully decorated place you shall enjoy a huge variety of appetizers, fresh fishes and other seafood.Tasteful specialties such as lobster spaghetti Greek music will keep you company, making a warmer environment.

Crete's Mountain Villages

Chania to Imbros: "Crete's Mountain Villages" When you arrive - by ferry at Souda or by air, make a beeline for the waterfront restaurants, Karnagio the fish restaurant and the old cobbled, narrow shoplined streets. Take a drive to Vrisses, then up the winding, goat-laden road to Imbros, stop at one of the villages for a "Svakiani pitta" (a svakian pie - cheese filled and served with honey). The views here are stirring, the people of the Svakian region honest and fierce friends. You will be Happy and rewarding travels.

Lasithi Plateau

Having a car is key if you want to do the ring road around the plateau that passes through 12 small villages. The plateua itself is a lot cooler than the coast, surrounded by gorgeous mountain views.The drive to the plateau is the windy, stressful bit. In summer, the best flora on the island is found up on this plateau. One particular place we stopped at for a drink was drowning in flowers and had an absolotuley incredible view of the plateau below and the mountains in the distance.

The Palace of Knossos

The Minoan palace at Knossos, covering an area of 215,278 square feet (20,000 sq metres), is one of the world's greatest sightseeing experiences. It consists of four wings, arranged around a rectangular central court. The palace originally had many storeys, was built of ashlar blocks and had walls decorated with splendid frescoes. The remains now visible are actually not those of the original palace, which was built around 2,000 BC and destroyed by an earthquake about 1,700 BC.The Knossos site is about three miles (5km) south of Heraklion.

Historical Museum of Crete

This museum deals with Crete's more modern history and highlights the islanders' long battle for independence from the early Christian times to the present day. Exhibits include some Cretan folk art, and the Medieval and Renaissance collection contains the only painting on Crete by the island's famous painter El Grec

The history of Gavdos

Archaeological finds have shown that Gavdos was already inhabited 3000 years before Christ. The nymf Calypso from the Odyssey would have lived on Gavdos. The name of the island has been changed many times over the years. In ancient times the island was called Ogygya; subsequent names include Cavdos, Clavdos, Clauda and Clavdi. The Venetians called it Gotzo, probably after the Maltese island of Gozo. In the Byzantine period quite a lot of people lived on the island. In the Venetian period Gavdos was abandoned, after which Gavdos became a stronghold for the pirates.

Lake Kournas

Lake Kournas is one of only two lakes in Crete and covers a total area of about 160,000 square metres with a depth of up to 25 metres. The name is derived from the Arabic word for lake. Dense vegetation surrounds the scenic lake and the southeastern bank is lined with olive trees.The village of Kournas is 43km from Chania and 20km from Rethimnon on a road turning south at 41km of the Chania. Kournas Lake, old villages, Byzantine churches, a Minoan tomb and a cave are in the area around the village.

The Samaria National Park

The Samaria National Park has traditionally always opened to the public at the beginning of May.The walk through the National Park of Samaria is 13 km.The very narrow passage near the end of the gorge is often called the "Iron Gates". None of the former inhabitants of Samaria know why the place suddenly got this name. The park is supervised by the Department of Forestry and the gorge is generally open only from the beginning of May to the end of October. In winter, high water makes the gorge dangerous and impassable.