Spinalonga, also known as the leper island, is an islet located near Elounda in East Crete. Sadly, this happens to include the custom of vendettas. Ag Nik as the locals know it benefits from 3 separate seafronts: a lake and port, a beach and a marina. The Kri-kri (the Cretan ibex) lives in protected natural parks at the gorge of Samaria and the island of Agios Theodoros. In particular, it is known for Mount Ida or Psiloritis, which sits at a whopping 2456 meters in the center of the island. Snowfall is common on the mountains between November and May, but rare in the low-lying areas. As Cretes most celebrated author, Nikos Kazantzakis (of Zorba the Greek fame), once wrote: The mystery of Crete runs deep. In September 1898 the Candia massacre in Candia, modern Heraklion, left over 500 Cretan Christians and 14 British servicemen dead at the hands of Muslim irregulars. TUE 27 WED 28 THU 28 FRI 28 region-id="pin-13"; The largest island in Greece, Crete is renowned for its pin-up beaches, wild natural beauty, exquisite cuisine and thousands of years of culture and history As Crete's most celebrated author, Nikos Kazantzakis (of Zorba the Greek fame), once wrote: " The mystery of Crete runs deep. While it is undeniably beautiful, there is a lot more to it. The Muses were so anguished to have lost that they plucked the feathers from the wings of their rivals; the Sirens turned white and fell into the sea at Aptera ("featherless"), where they formed the islands in the bay that were called Lefkai (the islands of Souda and Leon). Many DSE soldiers were killed in the fighting while the survivors broke into small armed bands. Many Cretan Turks fled Crete because of the unrest, settling in Turkey, Rhodes, Syria, Libya and elsewhere. This included the painter El Greco and the writers Nicholas Kalliakis (16451707), Georgios Kalafatis (professor) (c.16521720), Andreas Musalus (c.16651721) and Vitsentzos Kornaros.[53][54][55]. [101] Trees tend to be taller to the west of the island where water is more abundant. Popular tourist attractions include the archaeological sites of the Minoan civilisation, the Venetian old city and port of Chania, the Venetian castle at Rethymno, the gorge of Samaria, the islands of Chrysi, Elafonisi, Gramvousa, Spinalonga and the Palm Beach of Vai, which is the largest natural palm forest in Europe. The most authentic version of the dish consists of only four ingredients: tomatoes, barley rusks, mizithra cheese, and olive oil. [85] Moth species include the hummingbird moth. Some of the many famous products are the local graviera (a piquant cheese), herbs and salad greens such as stamnagathi (a wild chicory), as well as dozens of wild and sweet greens for braising, staka (think clotted cream made from sheeps milk and used in pilafs) and assorted savoury pies and sweets. Cretes industry is largely confined to food-processing equipment (grape and olive presses), building materials (quarried stone and marble, processed lime, and building blocks), and a few ceramics, textiles, soap, leather, and beverage-bottling enterprises. The port would handle twomillion containers per year, but the project has not been universally welcomed because of its environmental, economic and cultural impact. Just beware of the (many) nudists there looking to do the same! [51][52] The reconquest of Crete was a major achievement for the Byzantines, as it restored Byzantine control over the Aegean littoral and diminished the threat of Saracen pirates, for which Crete had provided a base of operations. The island has many natural features, and human-made edifices that have formed parts of the must-visit sections. While the cities continued to prey upon one another, they invited into their feuds mainland powers like Macedon and its rivals Rhodes and Ptolemaic Egypt. For botanists, the island is a dream as its home to exactly 110 individual plant species including the rareAndrocymbium rechingeri, for which it is a protected area. You might have heard Joni Mitchells song Carey, where she sings about the Matala moon. Crete is a region of Greece, it is the biggest island and the most southern one, except for the little island of Gavdos. The country is then pulled into an interesting parity, where these companies only upkeep those natural resources that are directly essential to their industry.[73]. [16], The island has a number of gorges, such as the Samari Gorge, Imbros Gorge, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, Ha Gorge, Platania Gorge, the Gorge of the Dead (at Kato Zakros, Sitia) and Richtis Gorge and (Richtis) waterfall at Exo Mouliana in Sitia.[17][18][19][20]. The region's governor is, since 1 January 2011, Stavros Arnaoutakis, who was elected in the November 2010 local administration elections for the Panhellenic Socialist Movement. [21] Lake Voulismeni at the coast, at Aghios Nikolaos, was formerly a freshwater lake but is now connected to the sea, in Lasithi. During the Bronze Age, Crete was the centre of the Minoan, notable for its art, its writing systems such as Linear A, and for its massive building complexes including the palace at Knossos. Later on, in 1986, Russian nuclear scientists looking for a peaceful life claimed it as their new home post-Chernobyl. The goddess Athena bathed in Lake Voulismeni. [100][101] Rare herbs include the endemic Cretan dittany. The island has a per capita income much higher than the Greek average, whereas unemployment is at approximately 4%, one-sixth of that of the country overall. All people are guilty of lying at one time or another, but not all are habitual liars, as it seems the ancient Cretans were. [citation needed], The investment falls under Greece's "Improvement of Accessibility" Operational Programme, which aims to improve the country's transport infrastructure as well as its international connections. Some are environmentally protected. Featuring all manner of pottery, jewellery and ceremonial pieces, the sheer quantity and diversity of the artefacts help bring to life ancient Cretes most celebrated civilisation. Deka (Kasteli) (22+170 km to 37+900 km) of the vertical road axis Irakleio Messara in the prefecture of Irakleio, Kriti" is EUR 102 273 321, of which the EU's European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 86,932,323 from the Operational Programme "Improvement of Accessibility" for the 2007 to 2013 programming period. With sights including the ancient palace of Knossos to see, plus unique food and traditions to experience, you'll never be short of things to do on Crete, Greece. In c.732, the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian transferred the island from the jurisdiction of the Pope to that of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.[48]. There was limited contact with mainland Greece, and Greek historiography shows little interest in Crete, as a result, there are few literary sources. On the island of Crete, the most popular olive variety is Koroneiki. due to conservation concerns, access to Koufonisi has been restricted for the last few years). Crete is an island, but it packs in a whole country's worth of unmissable sites within its lovely shores. [56] The first was the religious endowments. Crete is famous as the birthplace of the legislator Minos; and in the Bible, for its connection with the voyage of Paul to Rome, Acts 27:1-44. [64] The flag of the Cretan State was chosen by the Powers, with the white star representing the Ottoman suzerainty over the island. [85][90], Sea turtles include the green turtle and the loggerhead turtle which are both threatened species. The Paximadia islands were the birthplace of the goddess Artemis and the god Apollo. Some of the fish that can be seen in the waters around Crete include: scorpion fish, dusky grouper, east Atlantic peacock wrasse, five-spotted wrasse, weever fish, common stingray, brown ray, mediterranean black goby, pearly razorfish, star-gazer, painted comber, damselfish, and the flying gurnard. Indeed, the ancient Greeks attributed the lack of large mammals such as bears, wolves, jackals, and venomous snakes, to the labour of Hercules (who took a live Cretan bull to the Peloponnese). Common wildflowers include: camomile, daisy, gladiolus, hyacinth, iris, poppy, cyclamen and tulip, among others. The one exception is the Mesara Plain, which is relatively well watered and is one of the few areas that can be farmed efficiently using large machinery, but even there the grain crops are for domestic consumption only. It is rich and full of butter. Sadly, this happens to include the custom of vendettas. Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Ierapetra, Malia, Hersonissos, Sitia, Sfakia wherever you visit, its an island of thousands of vibrant images, filled with an open-hearted and vivacious spirit, rich history, world-famous cuisine and hospitable people. [100][101] and ironwort, Sideritis syriaca, known as Malotira (). It is hoped to benefit both tourists and locals by improving the connections to the southern part of the island and by reducing accidents. This was not recognised internationally until 1 December 1913.[64]. The island is mostly mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east. After a brief period of independence (18971913) under a provisional Cretan government, it joined the Kingdom of Greece. Vendettas are feuds between families, emanating from seeking vengeance for perceived wrongdoing. A.J. Copyright © 2023 Discover Greece | Created by the Greek Tourism Sector. What is Crete Most Famous For? [23] Western Crete (Chania province) receives more rain and the soils there suffer more erosion compared to the Eastern part of Crete. [89] The loggerhead turtle nests and hatches on north-coast beaches around Rethymno and Chania, and south-coast beaches along the gulf of Mesara. Crete has an extensive bus system with regular services across the north of the island and from north to south. The largest island in Greece, Crete is a diverse and vibrant land packed with ancient ruins, buzzing cities and breathtaking beaches. His favoured instrument is the lyre, a bowed string instrument. Following the conquest, the island experienced a wonderful fusion of Cretan and mainland skills. Its numbers swelled to approximately 300 fighters. Crete was initially granted to leading Crusader Boniface of Montferrat[50] in the partition of spoils that followed. [13] Another proposal suggests that it derives from the ancient Greek word "" (krataie), meaning strong or powerful, the reasoning being that Crete was the strongest thalassocracy during ancient times.[14][15]. ", "Crete: 10 Fun Facts and Interesting Insights", ": , , - ", Checklist and Guide to the Birds of Crete, Great Britons in Crete, John Bryce McLaren, Vendetta Victims: People, A Village Crete's `Cycle Of Blood' Survives The Centuries, "Collective Memory and Blood Feud: The Case of Mountainous Crete", "Interview with Aye Cebesoy Saralp, Ali Fuat Pasha's niece", "Arn Ahmediye kynde ocuklarla Rumca konutu", "Greece angered over Turkish Deputy PM's Hagia Sophia remarks", Official Greek National Tourism Organisation website, St. Mark Basilica (Museum of Visual Arts), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crete&oldid=1162509269, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with dead external links from September 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with Turkish-language sources (tr), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles using infobox islands with additional info, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing Ancient Egyptian-language text, Articles containing Mycenaean Greek-language text, Articles containing Proto-Greek-language text, Articles containing Cuneiform Luwian-language text, Articles containing Medieval Greek-language text, Articles containing Venetian-language text, Articles containing Ottoman Turkish (1500-1928)-language text, Pages using infobox settlement with bad settlement type, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2021, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from December 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Pages using Sister project links with default search, Articles with Greek-language sources (el), Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. The islands east-west mountainous range consists of four main groups that rise to the islands highest point, di mountain, 8,058 feet (2,456 metres) in elevation. The most opulent area of the city was the northeastern quadrant where the elite were gathered. This large island, which closes int he Greek Archipelago on the south, extends through a distance of 140 miles between its extreme points. There are plans for underwater cables going from mainland Greece to Israel and Egypt passing by Crete and Cyprus: EuroAfrica Interconnector and EuroAsia Interconnector. [7], The current name Crete is first attested in the 15th century BC in Mycenaean Greek texts, written in Linear B, through the words ke-re-te (.mw-parser-output .script-Cprt{font-size:1.25em;font-family:"Segoe UI Historic","Noto Sans Cypriot",Code2001}.mw-parser-output .script-Hano{font-size:125%;font-family:"Noto Sans Hanunoo",FreeSerif,Quivira}.mw-parser-output .script-Latf,.mw-parser-output .script-de-Latf{font-size:1.25em;font-family:"Breitkopf Fraktur",UnifrakturCook,UniFrakturMaguntia,MarsFraktur,"MarsFraktur OT",KochFraktur,"KochFraktur OT",OffenbacherSchwabOT,"LOB.AlteSchwabacher","LOV.AlteSchwabacher","LOB.AtlantisFraktur","LOV.AtlantisFraktur","LOB.BreitkopfFraktur","LOV.BreitkopfFraktur","LOB.FetteFraktur","LOV.FetteFraktur","LOB.Fraktur3","LOV.Fraktur3","LOB.RochFraktur","LOV.RochFraktur","LOB.PostFraktur","LOV.PostFraktur","LOB.RuelhscheFraktur","LOV.RuelhscheFraktur","LOB.RungholtFraktur","LOV.RungholtFraktur","LOB.TheuerbankFraktur","LOV.TheuerbankFraktur","LOB.VinetaFraktur","LOV.VinetaFraktur","LOB.WalbaumFraktur","LOV.WalbaumFraktur","LOB.WeberMainzerFraktur","LOV.WeberMainzerFraktur","LOB.WieynckFraktur","LOV.WieynckFraktur","LOB.ZentenarFraktur","LOV.ZentenarFraktur"}.mw-parser-output .script-en-Latf{font-size:1.25em;font-family:Cankama,"Old English Text MT","Textura Libera","Textura Libera Tenuis",London}.mw-parser-output .script-it-Latf{font-size:1.25em;font-family:"Rotunda Pommerania",Rotunda,"Typographer Rotunda"}.mw-parser-output .script-Lina{font-size:1.25em;font-family:"Noto Sans Linear A"}.mw-parser-output .script-Linb{font-size:1.25em;font-family:"Noto Sans Linear B"}.mw-parser-output .script-Ugar{font-size:1.25em;font-family:"Segoe UI Historic","Noto Sans Ugaritic",Aegean}.mw-parser-output .script-Xpeo{font-size:1.25em;font-family:"Segoe UI Historic","Noto Sans Old Persian",Artaxerxes,Xerxes,Aegean}, *Krtes; later Greek: [kr.tes], plural of [krs])[8] and ke-re-si-jo (, *Krsijos; later Greek: [krsios],[9] 'Cretan'). The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea, while winter is fairly mild. Hundreds of migratory bird species visit Crete, and there are some small wild animals. If you're looking for ideas of what to do when you get to Crete, here are five things why most people who visit Crete love it. In the Hebrew Bible, Crete is referred to as () "kretim". It made the Ottoman elite contribute to building and rehabilitating the ruined city. Spinalonga is reachable by tourist boats leaving every 30 minutes from Elounda. Today it can only be found in the highlands of Crete. There, date palms bear fruit, and swallows remain year-round rather than migrate to Africa. So weve prepared a love-list for your next magical holiday in Greece, Palm-fringed beauty and a glorious taste of Crete, Cretan flair in the shadow of the White Mountains, A magnet for fun-lovers and culture-seekers, Set your responsible travel goals with our sustainable travel guide to Chania, including eco-friendly tours & experiences and tips on the best time and way to visit Crete, Discover some of the best hiking trails for your holidays in Greece, with little-known routes in Crete, Tinos, Skiathos, Samos, Ithaca, Kythira, the Peloponnese and more, Fill up on authenticity during your holidays in Crete by discovering the unexplored villages of Lasithi (near Elounda and Agios Nikolaos): Zakros, Lastros, Kritsa, Mochlos, Psychro, Tzermiado and Kastelli. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. It can be eaten alone, with biscuits, on bread or cooked in pies. Cretan hospitality displays the same characteristics as the islands famous landscape: grand, generous and infinitely welcoming. Crete was separated from Cyrenaica c.297. The insurgency in Crete gradually withered away, with the last two hold outs surrendering in 1974, 25 years after the conclusion of the war in mainland Greece.[67]. Visitors reach the island via two international airports in Heraklion and Chania and a smaller airport in Sitia (international charter and domestic flights started in May 2012)[68] or by boat to the main ports of Heraklion, Chania, Rethimno, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia. They are not officially recorded so, their only way of living on is by word-of-mouth. During the 201112 season, OFI Crete, which plays at Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium (Iraklion), and Ergotelis F.C., which plays at the Pankritio Stadium (Iraklion) were both members of the Greek Superleague. What is Crete Famous/Known For? Crete is known for the ancient city of Knossos, which was home to one of the earliest Aegean civilizations. The city had received another name under the rule of the Ottomans, "the deserted city". Encompassing a trek of around 15 km through narrow pathways and abandoned villages, hiking the Samaria Gorge is one of Cretes most rewarding outdoor experiences. Icarus and Daedalus were captives of King Minos and crafted wings to escape. Omissions? For other uses, see. However, I would personally recommend diving even deeper into this legend. One of the most famous beaches in Crete, Elafonisi is renowned for its unique beauty. Leave time for the fascinating museums, particularly the Museum of Natural History and the Historical Museum of Crete. Bus routes and timetables can be found on KTEL website. Luckily, it is almost always served with appetizers, so you dont have to drink it on an empty stomach. Everything You Need to Know About Knossos Palace The list of fascinating attractions on Greece's largest and most historical island is long. On Crete, youll find some of the most significant attractions in Greece: famous archaeological sites such as theMinoan palaces of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Kato Zakros. Ruling an island without a navy: A comparative view of Venetian and Ottoman Crete. Many Greek Cretans fled to other regions of the Republic of Venice after the OttomanVenetian Wars, some even prospering such as the family of Simone Stratigo (c. 1733 c. 1824) who migrated to Dalmatia from Crete in 1669. Chania becomes extremely crowded during the summer months. One proposal derives it from a hypothetical Luwian word *kursatta (compare kursawar 'island', kursattar 'cutting, sliver'). [74][75] Their ancestors could have reached the island in the time of the Messinian salinity crisis. From 1212, during Venice's rule, which lasted more than four centuries, a Renaissance swept through the island as is evident from the artistic works dating to that period. [96][97], The Minoans contributed to the deforestation of Crete. [100] Crete has a rich variety of indigenous herbs including common sage, rosemary, thyme, and oregano. Crete has the honor of being Greece's biggest island, a key reason why it remains so popular with tourists and locals alike. Spinalonga fort. In 1908, taking advantage of domestic turmoil in Turkey as well as the timing of Zaimis's vacation away from the island, the Cretan deputies unilaterally declared union with Greece. After a few days of hard fighting, the Ottomans broke into the monastery. During Easter of 1770, a revolt against Ottoman rule in Crete was started by Daskalogiannis, a shipowner from Sfakia who was promised support by Orlov's fleet which never arrived. Spinalonga is a dazzlingly beautiful islet located in the Gulf of Elounda off the northeastern coast of Crete. It is located in the southern part of the Aegean Sea separating the Aegean from the Libyan Sea. Immigration and Assimilation in the Jewish Community of Late Venetian Crete (15th17th centuries). Christians and Jews were also able to buy and sell in the real-estate market. [34] In addition, a European Union study has been devised to promote a modern highway to connect the northern and southern parts of the island via a tunnel. Nearly every rural household on Crete has at least one unregistered gun. All three sectors of the Cretan economy (agriculture/farming, processing-packaging, services), are directly connected and interdependent. The palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement and ancient Minoan city, is also located in Heraklion. As a result, the Macedonian king Philip V gained hegemony over Crete which lasted to the end of the Cretan War (205200 BC), when the Rhodians opposed the rise of Macedon and the Romans started to interfere in Cretan affairs. Crete and a number of islands and islets that surround it constitute the Region of Crete (Greek: ), which is the southernmost of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece, and the fifth most populous of Greece's regions. 1hr30mins. All your holiday planning needs in one place, letting you book direct and benefit from official online rates, 7-day road trip from Thessaloniki into northern Greece, The largest island in Greece, Crete is renowned for its pin-up beaches, wild natural beauty, exquisite cuisine and thousands of years of culture and history. What makes Preveli beach so famous is the palm forest surrounding the river, which comes from a gorge and ends up in the sea! The Cretan mountains and gorges are refuges for the endangered lammergeier vulture. RT @AllBiteNoBark88: They just deleted the tweet of Hunter Biden strangling an under-age child naked on a bed. Dairy products are important to the local economy and there are a number of specialty cheeses such as mizithra, anthotyros, and kefalotyri. Winter temperatures are relatively mild. Under Ottoman rule, in Ottoman Turkish, Crete was called Girit (). Crete is A Massive Island Crete is the largest island in Greece, and its beaches stretch for over 160 miles. Dwarf elephants, dwarf hippopotamus, dwarf mammoths, dwarf deer, and giant flightless owls were native to Pleistocene Crete. Mantinades are used to express all sorts of emotions, from joy to sorrow and love. Originally inhabiting a smaller nucleus of this area, they expanded rapidly in the 17th and 18th centuries after engaging in the fur trade and acquiring firearms. This page was last edited on 29 June 2023, at 16:12. Crete with its nearby islands form the Crete Region (Greek: , Perifria Krtis, [periferia kritis]), one of the 13 regions of Greece which were established in the 1987 administrative reform. As well as one of the most beloved islands by tourists, many of which return to the island every year or two, all of them willing to experience a different adventure each time. October from 8 am to 7 pm. Basic Facts about Crete and the Geography of Crete.
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