For some people, Crete is a hot sun, a blue sea, beautiful beaches and luxury hotels, for others – ancient history and monuments of the Minoan civilization, for the third – the small villages and magnificent village cuisine, but for someone it is the found Atlantis – and scientists have expressed such assumptions. And this is mainly because the history of Crete repeats the legend of the mysterious land, disappeared in the waters of the ocean.
Traveling on the island, easily navigating the ages, all of them have left reminders pre-Greek -Minoan, the Venetian, the Muslim past. The capital of Crete is Heraklion.
In the City Center there are beautiful houses, which were built by the Venetians, ancient fountains and churches of different eras. Nearby is the local airport with a surprising runway: it seems, landing planes relate their chassis Sea.
It is interesting to watch the fishermen, that are forever on their boats or just relax on the deck. At the end of a long causeway Venetians built a fortress Kul.
The castle is small, and its examination of time would be required. But you want to stay here longer to see the old cannons and the nucleus, its thick walls in cool rooms to escape from the heat.
Almost obligatory tour for all who came to Crete is Knossky Palace. Indeed, a small island, washed by three seas, was the birthplace of ancient civilization. «Another pile of ancient Greek stone!» – an old tourist would say. No, these are not stones, but rather well-preserved ruins, and they are not Greek, but Minoan belonging to an entirely different civilization, which has disappeared.
In this palace you need to travel with a good guide, but it is even better to brush up beforehand in the memory
of the Greek myths, which will literally come to life before your eyes. After the palace it will be interesting to go to Iraklionsk Museum, where fine details of the Minoan past are preserved from the barbarian tourists , found during excavations.
Another Cretan entertainment for leisure travelers is golf. The island has beautiful fields, located high in the mountains. This unusual landscape will not only create some intrigue in the game, but will also enjoy the surroundings: the bright green slopes, covered with amazing flowers, mountains, a little break on the horizon to indicate a piece of blue sea.
Families with children should pay attention to the Grecotel Resort Creta Palace, located on the wide sandy beach, where in ancient times Carriage-Caretta turtles have built their nests. Guests can choose the best room: a luxurious room in the main building or one of the many bungalows. For children there is everything: swimming pools, special cafe, club, where the child can spend a day, but still be happy to stay for the night.
This hotel is a real city: it has its own church, shopping in national style and tiny traditional Greek coffee house, walls of which are decorated with old items.
Resting in Crete in one of the hotels of Grecotel, it is to worth to allocate one day and go to the farm Agreco, belonging to the owners of the same hotel chain. Once it was just a farm, now it has become a model demonstration farm, which do not use pesticides and inorganic fertilizers, where attention s paid to ecology, and where every guest is happy to be demonstrated how to make olive oil, as well as raise the grapes, how to create a cheese, as well as strigut sheep.
You can not only see these all, but also participate in the process. An evening on the farm will end the national dinner. You will be offered a stack of brandy, which can be eaten with just collected fresh vegetables – tomatoes and cucumbers , fresh, slightly salted artichokes. Artists in the meantime have already begun the program – because now you are waiting for Crete unusual dances. Admiring honed intricate movements of dancers, do not forget about the musicians: they have played on traditional instruments – Lira, lute, bouzouki, which if found in any of the museums of music, then sure – you have not hear how they sound. Then all the guests are invited to the farm to the table, laid on a large terrace, from where a magnificent view of the mountains, fields and vineyards, extending along the sea to spend several hours trying to dish Cretan cuisine, drinking your wine and many, many times repeating one, but perhaps the most important toast – «Cheers!» – «Yamas!»
