Information about Crete

South-west of Crete’s capital town, you’ll find the gigantic man-made caves sheltering Matala Beach’s golden sands. Inhabited by “flower children” from all over the world in the 60s and 70s and dating back to the Roman times, these aren’t the only archaeological treasure you’ll discover here. Put on your snorkels and explore the fantastic Roman-era remains found underwater too! Head north-east from here for a visit to Crete’s best place for mythology-lovers: the Palace of Knossos - or the palace of the Minotaur, according to Greek mythology. Stroll around the remains of royal underground rooms, intricate pillars and colorful wall paintings, taking.

Head to the southern tip and soak up the sun on Elafonisi Beach’s pink sands. Drenched by the Libyan Sea’s warm, shallow waters, its soft beach got its peculiar colour from thousands of years of corals crumbling naturally into sand-like grains. Known as the “Greek Caribbean”, the transparent waters here are definitely worth the sunny drive up and downhill. If you find yourself on the northern tip, don’t miss out on visiting Crete’s number one attraction: Vai’s Blue Flag beach. Shaded by Europe’s largest natural palm-tree forest, its golden sands offer another exotic beach spot, complete with windsurfing and group scuba diving.

Crete’s western corner offers up some fantastic history and scenery. And this day trip is great for taking it all in. Your first stop is the World War II cemetery at Souda Bay. With its green lawns edging the bay’s shores, this poignant place is home to over 1,500 graves of British and Commonwealth soldiers who died here during the 1941 Battle of Crete.

After visiting the nearby grave of Crete’s national hero, Eleftherios Venizelos, you’ll then continue on to Chania. Set around an old harbour and threaded with cobbled lanes, it’s one of Crete most beautiful harbor towns. After a guided tour, you’ll get the chance for a spot of shopping, perhaps snapping up leather goods along the town’s famous ‘Leather Lane’. Before the trips ends you'll drive to Lake Kournas - Crete's biggest lake. Here you'll have a bit of time to relax and take in the the views, before heading back to base.

Frangokastello is an important historical monument in the region of Chania, Crete. This castle was built between the period 1371-1374 BC. The construction work started by the Venetians, who had conquered Crete that time. In fact, this castle was set up to maintain a military base for the Venetian army. Apart from protecting the area and the properties of the noblemen from pirates and enemy attacks, this castle would also be used as a base for attacks in the inland of Crete, who was still resisting to the Venetian conquerors. At first, the castle was named Castle of Saint Nikitas to honor a close church, but later it was named Frangokastello by the locals, which means the Castle of the Franks (Venetians).

The Venetians constructed Frangokastello in a rectangular shape. They built strong and massive towers at each of the four corners. On the huge gate, they built a coat of arms symbolizing the Venetian bravery. However, all the buildings and fortifications that we see today inside the castle walls were completed by the Turks during the Ottoman rule (17th-19th centuries). Another legend connected to Frangokastello is the story of Drossoulites. In 1828, the Cretans had revolved against the Turks and 600 men from Epirus under Hatzi Michalis Dalianis had come to help the Cretan Revolution. In May 1828, they locked themselves in Frangokastello, rejecting the advice of the Cretans that this was not a safe location. Outside the walls, there were 8,000 Turkish soldiers fighting them.

Right in the heart of the resort, you’ll discover magical Lake Voulismeni. According to mythology, this is where the goddess Athena used to bathe, and today you can do the same in this truly magnificent setting. The picturesque saltwater lake is lined with pastel-colored tavernas and stylish boutiques, so it’s easy to while away a whole day and evening here. You won’t want to miss this.

The region of Heraklion Crete gets very popular in summer as this is the main transportation hub to Crete. In fact, many charter flights from abroad and ferries arrive in Heraklion Town, carrying millions of visitors. Holidays in Heraklion combine amazing beach resorts with visit to historical sites. The northern side of the region is very developed with tourist facilities, especially the beach places close to Heraklion Town. The southern side is more secluded and receives fewer visitors but it has famous places, like Matala.

Located between the prefectures of Rethymno and Lassithi, on the eastern side of Crete, Heraklion is the most popular region of the island. It hosts many busy places with intense nightlife, including Malia, Hersonissos, Ammoudara and Agia Pelagia, but also many peaceful family places, particularly on the southern side. As Heraklion Greece was the main field where the Minoan civilization flourished, you should not miss a visit to the Minoan Palaces of Knossos and Phaestos. A drive around Heraklion in Crete will also bring you to traditional villages, Medieval castles, Byzantine monasteries and nice beach places to relax. This region combines busy resorts and secluded coves.

In the 16th century, Heraklion was conquered by the Turks who kept the entire island under their occupation till the early 20th century. In fact, the town has signs of the Venetian and the Turkish occupation in its architecture structures. The area of Heraklion is green and very interesting. Pure nature gives way to mountainous villages and sandy beaches are followed by impressive gorges. Driving around the prefecture is an excellent experience to get to know the Cretan landscape. Heraklion has developed a lot in tourism. Most famous tourist resorts are Malia, famous for their vivid nightlife, Hersonissos and Agia Pelagia, while Matala on the southern side of Crete is also much developed. The relaxing sandy beaches and the picturesque villages have made Heraklion a popular tourism destination in Crete.