Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica. It is situated among Aegean and Libyan Sea boasting a truly remarkable natural beauty and thousands of years of culture, history and exquisite cuisine. It is undoubtedly one of the most blessed islands with a diverse mix of landscapes combining endless costal plain sandy beaches, rocky bays, impressive rugged mountainscapes, lush valleys, busy metropolitan cities and very peaceful hillside villages.
Crete is extremely interesting from an archaeological perspective too due to the breadth of its long history. The most famous period of its history is the Minoan civilization dating back to the Bronze Age from the 27th to 12th century BC. Due to its strategic/geographical location, the island has consecutively been invaded and inhabited by different civilizations who left their marks and attributed to the special culture and distinctive architecture of the island including the Mycenaeans, the Romans, the Byzantine Empire, the Venetians and the Ottomans. While travelling around the island you can find ancient ruins scattered everywhere revealing its history, the most recognized being the palace of Knossos / with the palace of Knossos being the most recognized archaeological excavation of the Minoan ages.
One of the biggest and most beautiful towns of Crete is Chania which has much of the Venetian part of its history intact. The old town is built around the Old Venetian Harbour with its charming Venetian mansions and romantic alleys that will make you feel as if you have travelled back in time. The history, culture, vivid culinary tradition/rich gastronomic culture, the Cretan hospitality, the welcoming and friendly people, along with the natural beauty make a visit to Crete an unforgettable experience!