Crete is one of the largest islands in Greece. This island has a wonderfully developed tourist infrastructure and a huge number of exciting places. So what to see in Crete if you are taking a trip to this beautiful island and if your plans include more than just a beach holiday?
History and architecture
Crete is undoubtedly a paradise for history and mythology lovers. According to the myths of Ancient Greece, it was to this island that Rhea, the wife of the cruel ruler Cronus, fled to give birth to their son Zeus, since the father cruelly dealt with all other babies. There is a huge number of museums in Cyprus, where you can see exhibits telling about the life of the ancient population: frescoes, household items, paintings, images of gods, statues. Museums are located in the largest cities of the island, for example, Heraklion. This city is home to the oldest archaeological museum and a museum of fine arts. Fans of archaeological excavations should visit the Palace of Knossos.
Crete is a huge island with a length of more than 8 thousand kilometers, so you will definitely have something to see.
This building was built in 1900 BC and was a major cultural center of the Minoan civilization. The palace of Knossos is notable for being one of the first architectural ensembles, where technical solutions that were surprising until that time, such as water supply and heating, were applied. Anemospilia is a Minoan temple well worth a visit. A mysterious atmosphere still reigns there, since it was in this place that sacrifices were made to the gods. In Crete, you can also find places related to the Roman Empire: for example, Gramvousa - the island of pirates and partly a Venetian fortress, as well as the city of Elefterna. The city of Festus is definitely worth a visit: this place was an important center in the history of Hellas, and besides, it was inhabited in the Neolithic era - this is evidenced by numerous excavations.
For nature lovers
If you are going to visit several places in Crete at once, get ready for the fact that the weather in different parts of the island is different: it can be either hot and serene, or windy.
Those who love nature will also not be bored on this beautiful island. For example, you can rent a car and visit one of the freshwater lakes: Kurnu or Voulismeni. In the first one you can enjoy wonderful clear water and views around, and Voulismeni is famous for its rocky landscape on one side and a huge number of restaurants and cafes with wonderful traditional cuisine on the other. By the way, according to legend, it was in this lake that the goddess of beauty Athena bathed. In addition to sandy beaches, Crete has several palm-tree beaches, such as Vai or Preveli. You can go there if you like not very crowded beaches with interesting nature and clear water.
