⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗

Iraklion (Heraklion or Herakleion) is the largest urban centre in Crete, the capital of the region and the economic centre of the island. Hania (or Chania) is the second biggest town in Crete and is well known for its scenic old town and harbor. Rethymnon is built between the two other large cities of Crete. The town still maintains its old aristocratic appearance, with its buildings dating from the 16th century, arched doorways, fountains etc. Agios Nikólaos is the capital of the Lassithi province of Crete and is built around a picturesque lake on the north-western side of the Mirabello bay.

Ancient Olous

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Within short distance from Elounda, near the salt pans, we meet few remains of the ancient city Olous (most inside the sea) that was inhabited since the Minoan period. Olous was one of the hundred most important cities of ancient Crete with a maximum population of over 30,000 people.

Askyfou Plateau

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The Plateau of Askifou is located 50km south of Chania, in one of the nicest and most authentic areas of Crete. The wild mountains around and the serenity of the valley, form a magnificent landscape all year round.

Ancient Lissos

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Ancient Lissos was the seaport of Elyros and was built in a small valley between Sougia and Paleochora. It flourished from the Hellenistic period up to the 9th century, when it was destroyed by the Saracens. It was famous for the Asclepion, where patients from all over the island arrived to be healed from the thermal baths.

Fortress Firkas

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On the west side of Chania harbor, the traveler can still visit Firkas fortress, still dominating a low hill and housing the modern Naval Museum of Crete. Firkas is a Turkish name and means division, as the fort housed the headquarters of the Turkish Division.

Μινωικό Ανάκτορο Μαλίων

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Ο αρχαιολογικός χώρος των Μαλίων βρίσκεται 3km ανατολικά των Μαλίων, δίπλα στον υδροβιότοπο της περιοχής και πολύ κοντά στη θάλασσα. Εδώ υπήρξε μια σημαντική μινωική πόλη και το τρίτο μεγαλύτερο σε μέγεθος μινωικό ανάκτορο, μετά της Κνωσού και της Φαιστού.

Voidomatis beach

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Voidomatis or Vouidomatos (i.e. ox’s eye) is located 62km south of Heraklion and 2.5km east of the hamlet Treis Ekklisies. The area is situated on the southern slopes of Asterousia Mounts. The impressive gorge of Mesosfini with towering walls and wild cliffs, a very common landscape for Asterousia, stops in Voidomatis.

Zakros Minoan Palace

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Zakros is located in a remote area of eastern Crete, 45km southeast of Sitia. Communication with the Mid East was faster from here during the Minoan Age, thus the Minoans built here the administrative center of Eastern Crete, with an important port. The findings are very rich (sheets of gold, ivory, jewelry, pottery, etc.) and prove the close relationship of the city with the ports of Cyprus, Egypt and the Middle East.

Paleochora Fort (Castel Selino)

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The fortresses built by the Venetians along the south shores of Crete were very few, perhaps because of the lack of ports and bays. One of them, however, was the fort of Selino (in the site of modern Paleochora). This fortress was built around the neck of a protrusion of land into the sea, so as to support the domination of the Venetians in the area, which was inhabited by many rebels.

Cities

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