Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth in the Mediterranean Sea.
The island was the birthplace of the Minoan civilization, the first advanced one in Europe. The Mycenaeans, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians and the Ottomans were the following rulers of the island. Such a history left Crete with an impressive cultural and artistic heritage. From the Minoan palace of Knossos to the Venetian Port of Chania, Crete harbours countless personalities, living together in harmony, yet with striking contrast.
The natural beauty of the island is not second to its art. Its paradisiac beaches attract every year many visitors, amazing them with their unique colours and landscapes. Also, Crete has more than 400 gorges and canyons. Its most important one, Samaria Gorge, is the second-longest in Europe.
The island is also home to the largest palm tree forest in Europe: Vai. The palms are called Phoenix Theophrasti, and such specie is unique to Crete.
A recollection of pictures
The following photo gallery is a recollection of pictures from a road trip around the island. The itinerary started in Heraklion and the Palace of Knossos. It continued in the Region of Chania with the beaches of Seitan Limania, Balos and the pink beach of Elafonisi. Another stop was the region of Rethymno and the unique beach of Preveli. The last stops of the tour were in the region of Agios Nikolaos and Ierapetra, ending with the palm beach of Vai.
The true ruler of the island
If you ever find yourself in Crete, take some time to get to know the most important inhabitants of the island, its true rulers. They have survived every kind of domination and the brink of extinction, and they still dominate the Cretan landscape. I am talking about the Kri-Kri, the typical Cretan goat: do not lose the opportunity of making friends with one of them!
