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 Crete
is Greece’s largest and most southerly island. It is also
the fifth largest in the Mediterranean.
Crete is a mountainous island with a huge chain running from east
to west.
The distance between Crete and the mainland as well as the fertility
of its land have made the Island independent for many centuries.
For that reason, Crete developed a culture of it own with its own
language and traditions.
Yet until today, with a flourishing agricultural economy, Crete
is one of the few greek islands that could propably support itself
even without the economic benefits of tourism. Nevertheless tourism
is heavily promoted in Crete.
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The island is so large
that it has absolutely everything to offer to the visitor: beautiful
mountains, endless golden sandy beaches, Europe’s only palm tree
forest, charming town, villages and fishing harbour, many caves,
numerous Byzantine churches, several castles...
Crete has also much to offer from a cultural and historical point
of view.
It is the birthplace of one of the oldest and greatest civilization
in Europe, the Minoan. There are some interesting ruins of that
civilization like the Palace of Knossos.
Crete Island consists of four Prefectures from
west to east: the Prefecture of Chania,
the Prefecture of Rethymno, the
Prefecture of Iraklio and the
Prefecture of Lassithi. Except
Lassithi with its capital Agios Nikolaos,
the Prefectures took the name of their capitals.
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Lassithi
is situated in Crete’s eastern part.