About Crete

Heraklion

Heraklion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete.

Heraklion was Europe’s fastest growing tourism destination for 2017. According to the ranking, Heraklion was ranked as the 20th most visited region in Europe and as the 66th area on the Planet for the year 2017, with 3.2 million visitors.

Chersonisos

Hersonissos is the meeting point for European Taekwon-Do Championship. It is part of the Heraklion regional unit. It is situated 25 km from the Heraklion airport, 27 km from the Heraklion port and 30 km from the Heraklion New Sports Arena “Dio Aorakia”

Knossos

The palace of Knossos eventually became the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace was abandoned at some unknown time at the end of the Late Bronze Age, c. 1380–1100 BC; the reason is unknown, but one of the many disasters that befell the palace is generally put forward.

Museum

The Herakleion Archaeological Museum is one of the largest and most important museums in Greece, and among the most important museums in Europe. It houses representative artefacts from all the periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The singularly important Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. The Herakleion Museum is rightly considered as the museum of Minoan culture par excellence worldwide.

Aquarium

The aquarium is currently operated by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, a public research institution. Its exhibits focus on the marine fauna of the Mediterranean region and include sea organisms from over 250 species in more than 60 tanks.

Spinalonga

Spinalonga is an island located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete, in Lasithi. During Venetian rule, salt was harvested from salt pans around the island. The island has also been used as a leper colony. Spinalonga has appeared in novels, television series, and a short film.

Balos

There is a lagoon, named the Balos lagoon, between the island Gramvousa and the coast of Crete. There is an islet which forms part of a cape, through the lagoon, called Cape Tigani (which means “frying pan” in Greek). North of Balos, at the Korykon cape, are the ruins of the small ancient Roman city of Agnion, with a temple to the god Apollo.

Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos was settled in the late Bronze Age by Dorian occupants of Lato, at a time when the security of the Lato hillfort became a lesser concern and easy access to the harbour at Agios Nikolaos became more important.
The name Agios Nikolaos means Saint Nicholas. Its stress lies on the second syllable of the word “Nikolaos”. Agios Nikolaos or Ayios Nikolaos is a common placename in Greece and Cyprus, since Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and of all of Greece.

Chania

Chania is the site of the Minoan settlement the Greeks called Kydonia, the source of the word quince. Some notable archaeological evidence for the existence of this Minoan city below some parts of today’s Chania was found by excavations in the district of Kasteli in the Old Town. This area appears to have been inhabited since the Neolithic era. The city reemerged after the end of the Minoan period as an important city-state in Classical Greece, one whose domain extended from Chania Bay to the feet of the White Mountains.

Rethimno

Rethymno is the capital of Rethymno regional unit in Crete. Rethymno was originally built during the Minoan civilization (ancient Rhithymna and Arsinoe). The city was prominent enough to mint its own coins and maintain urban growth. One of these coins is today depicted as the crest of the town: two dolphins in a circle.