Crit. Abode of gods and heroes

Greek boat, remote, responding to the gentle slapping of waves on board, gliding toward the shore. And the bank that appeared as the fairy country of ancient heroes. We returned to Crete with excursions to the island of Spinalonga, which admired the ancient Venetian fortress. Cretan coast ... Here's how it should be pestering him, and not arrive by plane, I thought.

Crete is definitely a really fabulous island with a rich history, beautiful weather and excellent conditions for recreation. And the first tourist on the island of Crete can be regarded as Zeus. Turning a bull, he kidnapped the beautiful Europe and brought it exactly here. Divine calculation was accurate. Even the pickiest princess so impressed thrilling beauty of the island, which in the end she had conceived a love of the formidable leader of the Greek gods. So the rest of Crete, as they say, Zeus ordered.
Now comfortable hotels built on almost the entire coast. In Crete there is no industry, except maybe a small little factory for processing fruit. Cretans enjoy all year round the cleanest air and most transparent sea. By area, the island quite small - about three hundred kilometers in length and much less in width. However, it is washed immediately four seas: Aegean, Ionian, Cretan and Libyan. With each of them connected any beautiful legend. But despite its relatively small size (especially for us who are accustomed to Russian gigantism), Crete is the largest Greek island with a rich and ancient history.
Long before our era there developed one of the oldest civilizations of mankind - the Minoan. In those days it was born in Crete, history, culture and religion of the ancient Greeks. Minoan Civilization perished from the terrible volcanic eruption, so that the memory of it remained only in ancient legends. But in the early twentieth century, archaeologist Arthur Evans, who conducted the excavations at Knossos, has opened around the world remains of this ancient culture.
Certainly, in the summer heat better than spending time on the beach. But still, having come to this island, it would be a sin not to go on trips to inspect at least some of its legendary attractions. For example, the Palace of Knossos, built four centuries ago. There were so many rooms, that since his name - Labyrinth - became a household word. And, as they say the ancient Greek legend, the Athenian hero Theseus is away with the monster Minotaur.


In addition to Knossos Visit the ancient Phaistos, where the hill is spectacular palace in the capital island of Roman times Gortyn. History buffs will find this truly legendary island a lot of interesting places.
But even someone who is indifferent to the mysteries of history, in Crete will not be bored. Almost every town has a historic, but still active male and female monasteries, ancient fortresses. And indeed, every Cretan town so unique that any walk on it becomes unforgettable.
Lovers of thrills can be advised to go on the longest - 18 miles! - Gorge in Europe. Samaria is located in the southwestern part of the island. Walk along the gorge will have no less than eight hours. Of course, one must have comfortable shoes. You can enjoy the extraordinary scenery and rare plants. Cliffs will be raised to a height of more than 600 meters. In a place called "Gate" gorge shrink to just three meters. And along the mountain stream will be down to the village of Agia Rumeli on the southern coast of the island.
Few who refuses to undertake a one-day cruise to the island of Santorini. Comfortable boat goes up to him for four hours. Irregularly shaped island covered with black volcanic sand and built up with snow-white houses of local residents, makes an indelible impression.
The only danger that lurks bathed in Cretan Sea - sea urchins. These cute creatures themselves not bothering anyone, and most of the time, to cling to rocks. But sometimes over their demolition on the sand, and if not carefully look at your feet - you can come to them. Perhaps because of these urchins flooded Crete the Germans and the Dutch prefer to swim in pools filled with seawater. But it's really, prejudices! In addition, every cloud has a silver lining. This spiny sea dweller lives only in very clean water, so it can serve as a mark of quality assigned to sea off the coast of Crete by nature.
Beaches on Crete feast for the eyes - from the wide sandy area in the village of Elounda and the town of Agios Nikolaos to pebbly or rocky. You can sunbathe on each of them. And not far from the village of Vai on the eastern shore of the island there is a unique beach, on the banks of which grow palm trees.
Note that the northern and southern parts of the island are very different from each other. Major cities - the capital of the island of Heraklion, Rethymno picturesque, medieval Chania and all the main resort town - located on the north side. The climate here is softer, more luxuriant nature, and the rest more. The southern part of the island facing the African is more austere. It is the nearly deserted beach was chosen in the sixties hippies. For some time the town of Ierapetra has become one of the summer "capitals" for European Youth. But in the south of the island can be great and relax, and enjoy the sights. That there is only a medieval fortress in the village Frangokastello!
However, during its rule over the island the Venetians set up a lot of castles in the neighborhood that you will find wonderful Greek restaurants. On the island hundreds of coffee shops and taverns. In the past you can order lobster in the morning floating in the sea, and give recommendations how to cook it (unless of course you have an idea of ​​how to do it). The owner must follow them. If you do not know a lobster, it is better to trust the chef. By the way, the lobster can be eaten in two ways: at home, armed, at least, an ax, and in a public place, taking some preliminary lessons learned from a knowledgeable person.
By the way, ladies, followed for her figure, it is necessary to bear in mind - in the Cretan tavernas serving just huge, and cooked it is delicious.
Even the most immobile leisure only dream of bliss at the pool, still makes sense to get at least a couple of "classic" tours. First - this, of course, a traditional water park, which is very popular with all tourists. A romantic nature, I advise you to visit the Lassithi Plateau. Don Quixote never been to Crete. What a pity! He would certainly have come to the delight of many windmills - exotic in appearance. They constantly "waving their hands" and so and pull any self-respecting knight's spur Rosinante and rush into battle for the honor of the beautiful Dulcinea!
On the beautiful Greek island of his childhood and the antiquity of nature intertwined extraordinarily bizarre and harmoniously. And then you can enjoy all the charms nesuetlivogo holiday on the Mediterranean island in conjunction with well-developed tourism industry. This makes the atmosphere of Crete such a desirable and attractive.The main resort centers of Crete


Hersonissos is one of the most popular seaside towns of Crete. This village resort with a small beautiful port and numerous sandy and rocky beaches is 26 km east of the island's capital, Heraklion, almost in the center of the northern coast of the island. It is famous for its wonderful beaches and plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and nightlife. In this city, the ruins of the oldest Christian churches in Crete.
Malia is located at 34 km east of Heraklion. Beautiful sandy beaches and clear sea make for water sports. In the eastern part of the city on the coast are the ruins of the palace of Minoan era.
Elounda, once a small fishing village on the Bay of Mirabello, is now a magnificent resort, where the most expensive and prestigious hotels in Greece.
Agios Nikolaos is located in the western Gulf of Mirabello in a few minutes drive from Elounda. In the city center around the picturesque "bottomless" lake, there are many cafes, restaurants, tavernas and noisy discos. The beaches of Elounda and Aghios Nikolaos from one year to become owners of the Blue Flag, awarded by the European Union for the purity of water and the coast.
Rethymnon - castle, planted in the XVI century to defend the island from pirates. The city has museums, monasteries, archaeological digs are conducted - in short, everything that could interest tourists. In the evening you can wander the narrow streets of picturesque "old town" and visit the shops and souvenir shops or sit over a glass of good Cretan wine in a tavern in the picturesque Venetian Harbour.Excursions
Knossos Palace - Archaeological Museum. Excursion to the main palace of the Minoan civilization. Palace maze is amazing the level of aesthetics and architecture. Archaeological Museum, located in Heraklion, is under special attention of UNESCO. Lasithi Plateau - Kera - Dikteon breathtaking nature of the mountainous Crete and Greek mythology. The logical goal Tours - visit the cave Dikteon Andrew, where according to legend, was born the father of the gods Zeus. On the way stop at the Monastery of Our Lady of Kery with well-preserved frescos of the XIV century.
Samaria Gorge - is one of the longest (18 km) and most beautiful gorges in Europe. Walk on the bottom of the gorge takes about 8 hours on the road given the opportunity to cool off in ponds formed by flowing down from the mountains in streams. Unforgettable feelings arise from "the iron gates, in a place where the canyon narrows to one meter.
Gramvousa (Western Crete). Gramvousa Island in the north-west of Crete - the place where the border three seas: Aegean, Ionian and Libyan. Water is the cleanest in the Mediterranean. Over the island of towering ruins of a Venetian fortress, which served as a haven for pirates. In the Bay of Balos ship will leave you for the beautiful beaches, where they spent their honeymoon, Princess Diana and Prince Charles ...
Elafonisi (Western Crete) - translated from the Greek "Elafonisi" - "deer island" affect the delightful beaches with pink sand. The road to Elafonisi passes through picturesque regions of West Crete. You can visit the cave-church called Agia Sofia, will pass on the edge of the gorge of Hagia Sophia, see the legendary stage of the monastery Hrisoska-litisa and enter the church with the miraculous icon. Ways of Orthodoxy (Western Crete) This exclusive tour will take you to the Cape Akrotiri, where you can see the ruins of an ancient monastery built by the Catholicos of the VI century St John the Hermit, pass through the cave where the saint spent most of his life, will rise to the current monastery Guverneto. You are waiting for the legend Arkudiotissa caves with stalactites, resembling a huge bear. Finally, the bus will take you to a working monastery, the Holy Trinity - the clearest richest monastery in Crete. The tour ends at the sandy beach of Stavros, where you can swim and have lunch.
Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos (East Crete) route for East Crete passes picturesque Mirabello Bay to the island fortress of Spinalonga. One of the attractions - the church of Saint Panteleimon. After swimming and lunch - barbecue you visit one of the most beautiful villages of Agios Nikolaos.
Cruise to the island of Santorini. Even in the rich legends of Greece is not much there so mysterious in its history, places like the island of Santorini. According to some assumptions, it is a fragment of a vanished Atlantis, other scientists believe that there existed a civilization more advanced than the Minoan and the explosion of the volcano was the result of man-made disaster. Gaze Traveler offers a breathtaking view: the red-black cliffs hanging over the emerald sea, and over them as if glued to white towns and villages. On board the comfortable ship you predlozhat zavtpak, a guide poznakomit c dopolnitelnymi ekckypciyami on ostrovu.vo return time you are waiting for dinner and a national music program.
Water park. In Crete several water parks, offering huge range of water fun for children and adults.