Crete Holiday

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A Holiday To Crete

Crete, a snow-capped mountainous region with beautiful sandy beaches stretching along 1000km of various coastlines is the largest of the Greek Islands and fifth largest in Mediterranean Sea. Masses of olive trees It is famous for its impressive ancient Greek and Roman Ruins as well as a popular destination for tourists due to its warm climate.

History

Crete has an extraordinary historical heritage as it was the center of the Minoan civilization (ca. 2600-1400 BCE), the oldest civilization in Europe and its archeology of the area dates back to Neolithic times. Crete was occupied by the Turkish up as far as the 18th Century but since 1913 it has been ruled by Greece.

Visiting the attractions

The Palace of Knossos is a commonly visited area in Crete, which is an outstanding archeological site. Heraklion is the largest city and the capital of Crete. The islands most popular must see attractions are the golden, sandy beaches sparsely separated along the its coast. The island is mountainous therefore offering great hikes for mountaineers. The Gingilos peak provides spectacular views across the White Mountains. The cave where Zeus is apparently buried can be found from Mount Zuktas.

Shopping, Food and Drink

There are a wide range of shops in Crete from handcrafts and souvenirs to leather goods, ceramics and carpets. A market in Chania offers fantastic fresh food produce, clothes and also plants. A downside to shopping in Crete as with many other Mediterranean regions is that the majority of shops close during the long afternoon siestas.

There are also a wide range of restaurants on the island that have become fairly internationalized, but there are a few that have retained their traditional cuisines. Cheeses, cooked cretin snails, calamari and various meat dishes are popular favorite dishes on the island. Local red and white wines can be tried at many of the local bars and taverns around the tourist centers.

Where to stay?

There are a wide range of apartments, luxury hotels, villas, and hostels on the island all ranging from two to five stars. Holidays are cheap to Crete throughout the year except during peak summer months, which is during July and August.

How to get there?

Crete has two airports namely Heraklion and Chania. The majority of flights travel directly to the island but in many cases flights travel to Athens and then get connecting flights to Crete.

About the Author

Doug Scott works and writes for Self Catering airport car rentals Doug also writes for The holiday Rental Site