Crete tourist guide. Guide to the island of Crete. For art lovers: foundry workshop

Discus Media presents a pocket guide to the largest island of Greece in the Nelles Pockets series from the German publishing house Nelles Verlag.

The 96-page book describes in detail the history and attractions of Crete and its cities, and provides updated information on the work of museums, restaurants and other tourism industry institutions. Separate chapters are devoted to Cretan and Greek cuisine, cultural life and other features of life and pastime on the island. The book is designed both for organized tourists in groups, and especially for those who prefer to get to know new cities and villages on their own. Despite the translated nature of the publication, the text and content of the book are maximally adapted for Russian travelers. The guide is richly illustrated and equipped with detailed maps.

On our website you can download the book "Crit. Guide" by Maurus Moritz for free and without registration in fb2, rtf, epub, pdf, txt format, read the book online or buy the book in the online store.

Grekoblog talked about the nuances that are worth paying attention to when planning a trip to Crete by car, and also presented an idea for the first day - a trip to Heraklion, the Palace of Knossos and the Cave of Sfedoni. Today we will go further and tell you where else you can go by car to make the most of your short vacation.

Day 2: Rethymnon and Kournas

Day 3: Gramvousa Island, Balos Bay and Old Chania

This trip is one of those that is definitely worth taking. Moreover, it is better to go in exactly this order: first to, and then, after swimming and sunbathing, look on the way back to Chania.

Some experts believe that Gramvousa is the mythical refuge of the wind god Aeolus from Homer's Odyssey.

In addition to its mythical roots, the island is interesting for its 16th-century Venetian fortress, the hundreds of species of birds found here, as well as turtles and fur seals that chose this place to breed their offspring. Gramvousa also has its own pirate legend: supposedly, a real treasure is buried on it.

Balos Bay is comparable in beauty to Santorini

Balos Bay is known as the confluence of three seas and for its natural beauty comparable only to Santorini. Due to ignorance, photos from Balos can easily be confused with popular tropical resorts. 12 shades of sea, incredible views and one of the best beaches in Crete. It is not surprising that in these places they spent their Honeymoon Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

You can also get to Gramvousa and Balos by sea

Finally, Chania - former capital Krita and one of the most beautiful cities Greece. It is still the second most important city on the island. In some ways it is very similar to Rethymno, only significantly larger in scale.

This trip has its own peculiarities. So, Gramvousa is an island and you can’t get there by car. Another point is the road to Balos. The last few kilometers of the route are a dirt road in terrible condition. The quality of the road surface is evidenced by the fact that very often in Cretan car rentals full CASCO does not apply to trips to the Bay.

In addition, there are wild goats, which, stunned by the heat, often climb out onto cars, then leaving hoof marks on the roofs.

Cretan goats are not afraid to come into contact with tourists

The only solution to all these difficulties is to come here on an organized excursion or leave the car at the port of Kavonisi of Kissamos and transfer to a boat. IN high season– from late June to early September – ships depart from Kissamos daily at 10:20, 10:40 and 12:30, returning between 17:45 and 19:30 ( current schedule It’s better to check when you arrive in Crete).

The ships stop long enough at both Gramvousa and Balos Bay to allow travelers to fully enjoy both attractions.

The price of an adult round trip boat ticket for the 2018 season is 27 Euro; children (up to 13 years old) – 13 Euro.

Day 4: Lasithi Plateau – Cave of Zeus – Kera Kardiotissa Monastery

If your hotel is located between Elounda and Heraklion, then this trip can easily be completed in half a day, leaving Cretaquarium (Cretan Aquarium) or Agios Nikolaos for a snack.

The Lasithi Plateau is located at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level and is a fertile plain surrounded on all sides by mountains.

Its main feature is its many windmills, which have been used since the 15th century to irrigate the rich local vegetation. At one time their number numbered in the thousands. Nowadays, there are much fewer operating mills left: the water level has dropped and the existing capacities are no longer enough to raise it to the surface.

The number of windmills on the Lasithi Plateau used to number in the thousands

Often tourists visit the Lassithi Plateau on the way to another famous attraction of Crete - (on the map it may be called Dikteon Andron), located in these places.

According to legend, it was here that the Supreme God of the ancient Greek Pantheon was hidden from his father Kronos as a child. A visit to the Cave is interesting not only because of its cult significance for the ancient Greeks, but also because of its natural features: numerous stalactites and stalagmites of rather bizarre shapes.

Finally, another place worth visiting during this trip is the famous Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa (Our Lady of the Heart) throughout Crete.

He became famous mainly thanks to the miraculous icon of the 8th century, healing the sick and helping women unable to have children. This icon, by the way, is also known for one more feature: it was stolen several times, but miraculously it always returned to its place.

Day 5: Vai Palm Beach – Agios Nikolaos

The famous palm grove of Vai is located in the east of the island - behind Sitia. This is the largest grove of its kind in Europe, which numbers about 4,500 thousand palm trees and covers an area of about 250 hectares.

According to one legend, palm trees appeared in this place thanks to Phoenician pirates, who ate dates here, throwing the seeds directly onto the ground. In fact, this is nothing more than a myth: there are mentions of palm trees on the island in the works of Pliny the Elder, who lived in the 1st century AD.

Vai Beach is one of the best in Crete

Vai is interesting not only for its tropical flavor, but also for its wonderful sandy beach, annually awarded the blue flag of the European Union for the cleanliness and well-groomed water area. It is customary to come to Vai for the whole day: there is parking, taverns, toilets and showers, and umbrellas and sunbeds are available for rent.

Photos by Marek52, Leonidas Konstantinidis, Thomas Munter, Theophilos Papadopoulos, Modestine l’ânesse des Cévennes, chris.

Hello! In this post we will talk about the big island Greece - Crete.

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Very important Before your trip, identify your travel goals. Conventionally, Crete can be divided into “beach” and “excursion”. Those looking to lay out on the sand, sip a cocktail, and slather on sunscreen/cream will have a great time. All that remains is to choose the right hotel and, more importantly, the right beach.

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Beaches of Crete- an ambiguous phenomenon. Due to the volcanic nature of the island, coastline(270 km) is basically represented by a not very convenient entrance to the sea. Stone slabs are very common, hence the problem even in many hotels. The government does not allow underwater rock barriers to be demolished, destroyed or broken in any way. There are very few real sandy beaches. Mostly it is pebbles and sand. And if the Germans, English and French don’t care about the sea (they all lie like seals on sun loungers by the pool), and even less about the beach, then give the Russian only sand: white, fine and not hot.

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The first landmark is a series of hotels stretching along the sea coast. If there are many hotels, then the beaches in this place are good. However, not always. You will have to verify the quality of the beach only through your own monitoring. Find nice beach You can also visit numerous taverns - this is how cafes and restaurants are called in Greece. If there are a large number of taverns located on the shore, there is a chance to play soldiers on the sandy beach. These beaches are usually municipal.

Sun loungers, towels and umbrellas - on almost all such beaches - are paid. Many taverns, as part of fierce competition, display their information boards on the beach, which say something like this: “Order lunch from us, get umbrellas and sunbeds for free.” You can use things like this. Saving 5-7 euros every day won't hurt. Guaranteed sandy beaches 11 km long and 300 meters wide can be found in the village of Kavros (Rethymno region). This, according to the guide, best beaches on the Aegean coast.

The same Those who prefer an excursion-nature holiday option to beaches, seas and sunbathing should first of all start by renting a car. Rent a car, and Crete, like a beauty from the red light district, will open its beautiful interior to you.

Maybe, You won't find a better insight into the island. Needless to say, you can easily get to any corner of Crete, the most popular or wild, armed with GPS navigation or a regular map. True, you need to be prepared for narrow roads, on which it is quite difficult to pass buses, but maximum concentration and minimum excitement... well, you know everything yourself. Just in case, rules and notes for the roads of Crete.

There are countless small agencies or giants like Hertz or Avis at your service.

If you do not have the rights, desires or capabilities, you can rent ATVs or scooters, the number of which is hardly less than cars. I repeat that it is much more convenient to explore the Cretan land using rented transport. If this option is too tough for you, you can ride a walking ram - they know the area no worse than a licensed guide.

Cretans, and all Greeks, pay special attention to food. The very convenient location of the island plus a favorable climate contribute to a rich harvest, which the Cretans harvest twice in good years. Cretans would rather throw themselves into a well than indulge in stale food. Naturally, great attention is paid to olive trees, which are revered by the Greeks just as birch trees are to Russian poets. The same goes for citrus fruits. Seafood is abundant: mussels, squid, cuttlefish. Portions in taverns are huge, prices are low. It's better to take a portion for two. Greek hospitality is also evident in taverns: after ordering a dish (which leisurely Greeks can bring to you for about 40 minutes), you will be offered to drink the local vodka - raki (emphasis on the last syllable). And after the meal they may offer dessert. Both are free. Worth a try : Greek salad , Moussaka , Pete , Tzatziki, lamb.

But with fish the situation is different - it is incredibly expensive. A kilogram of fish can cost 50 euros. Most likely, this is due to the fact that the fish here is prepared according to special recipes and only freshly caught, but in many taverns frozen fish prevails.

Heraklion

Hostel in Heraklion - Korifi Suites Apts - from $22 per night

You can see other options

Rethymno

Gorges

There are quite a lot of gorges on the island to suit every taste, long and not very long, wide and narrow, high and low, but they are all impressive. It is best to conquer them in a rented car.

Preveli Monastery, 36 km from Rethymno.

Now it's quiet and quiet place, where, if I’m not mistaken, 4 monks live, during the war it was a refuge for Cretan soldiers from the Nazis. The monks hid the soldiers, treated their wounds, helped them navigate the area and simply set them on the path to victory. On the way to the Preveli Monastery, you will definitely come across the Kurtaliot Gorge, in which the only river that does not dry up throughout the year flows. In the monastery itself there is a mini-zoo, and below is the famous palm-lined beach of Limni. The road from Rethymnon to the monastery, I believe, will be remembered by you no less than the monastery itself.

Santorini island

Anyone who has been to the Italian town of Positano and experienced its beauty will not miss the opportunity to go on an excursion to this enchanting greek island, life on which began about 3000 years ago. Those who haven’t been should go even more so. The island is also of volcanic origin; moreover, the volcano hidden under the abyss of water is active. The volcano's eruption force exceeds most volcanoes in the world, some by thousands of times. It is assumed that as a result of the earthquake of 1450 BC, a tsunami up to 100 m high flooded the Knossos Palace. The last time an earthquake was observed was in 1956, destroying only some of the island's houses.

Spinalonga island

Another strategic island on which is located Venetian fortress 16th century..Located in one of the most beautiful bays of Crete - Mirabello, in Elounda.

Information about other places and excursions can be found .

One of the main The characteristic feature of the Cretans is hospitality. However, sometimes in the eyes of many people it is refracted due to another distinctive feature of the population - slowness, or even carelessness. This slowness manifests itself in everything from waiting for an order in a tavern to more serious services in business. The Cretans themselves explain it something like this: “There’s no need to rush – appreciate every moment.” You just need to take note of this feature and not pay attention to it. Otherwise, Greeks are pleasant, smiling, friendly and good-natured. The average life expectancy is 80 years. Everyone smokes, always and everywhere, Greece is the leader in tobacco consumption per capita in the world. Cretans work early in the morning, before sunrise. Then they go to bed. Somewhere from two to six is Siesta time, people are sitting at home to escape the heat, so it’s difficult to meet people, especially the elderly.

Do not be surprised endless cats and dogs under your table in a tavern, yawning in the middle of the street or simply lying under shops. Cretans don’t keep anyone at home; sometimes they feed cats from the other end of the city. These little ones need very little from you - one tenth of your meal, a couple of affectionate ones, in a word - pay them attention.

Perhaps, the best option“price/quality” will be to buy a hotel and flight from a tour operator. This is due to the following:

1. Such demiurges as Teztur, Mibz and others launch their charters, thus, tickets for the tour are significantly lower in price compared to regular flights. Such tickets cost about 150-250 euros, but buying them is not always easy, but you should definitely try.

2. Thanks to the huge flows of tourists, these companies have elotments (guaranteed hotel rooms), also at special prices.

Therefore, sometimes you can book a tour at ridiculous prices.

For example:

1. ephyros each 3 *, HB – 562 euros per person with flights, for a week. Departure 18.06

Of course, there are actually much more places for lighting, hotels, restaurants and other attraction elements described in the post. That is why you will have questions: “why is there no this square, but there is this monument, who needs it?”, or “why did you choose this hotel, because it is much better.” This is all clear - you can’t please everyone.

Therefore, it will be very good if you complement useful information about cities, because together, by combining common experience, we will make a useful travel guide for ourselves.

Tourists are interested in what to see in Crete by car. And is it worth renting a car for a few days? Of course yes! After all, such a trip saves time on sightseeing and allows you to get to the most delicious corners of the island. It’s no secret that the main cultural sites of the island are located far from bus stops public transport. And transport, although it exists, runs on a flexible schedule. Therefore, a lot of time is wasted, but you want to soak up the beach and have time to visit secret corners. And a rented car will help you make your dreams come true.

A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the website until October 31:

AF500guruturizma - promotional code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
AFTA2000Guru - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Thailand from 100,000 rubles.
AF2000TGuruturizma - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Tunisia from 100,000 rubles.

Kourtaliotiko Gorge

This pearl of the island is easily accessible by car. Kourtaliotiko is located 25 km from the town of Rethymnon. You should leave the E75 following the Spili sign to the south in the Rethymno area. Then continue driving to the village of Koksare, where you need to turn at the Preveli sign (to the right) and go to the village of Plakias: here is the entrance to the gorge. This gorge is difficult to pass at any time of the year, but it is so unusual that tourists flock here.

In Kourtaliotiko you can hear the howling of the wind, the roar of waterfalls and applause. The place itself is picturesque: you can admire the beauty from 2 observation platforms. And if you go down the stone stairs, you can taste the crystal clear cool drinking water from the Big River. By the way, at the fork you should turn left: the right branch will lead to the pumping station. And the lovers cultural tourism They will visit the temple of Nicholas of Kurtaliot (a locally revered saint), which is located at the end of the stairs near the water.

Preveli Monastery

To get to Preveli you will have to drive 32 km from the town of Rethymno. You should leave the E75 following the Spili sign to the south in the Rethymno area. Then continue driving to the village of Koksare, where you need to turn right at the Preveli sign. The parking lot at Kato Preveli is paid. There is a small cafe nearby. This monastery was founded in the 16th century, although the first hermits appeared here in the 10th century.

The rich Cretan Prevelis family donated for the construction of Preveli, and the first abbot of the monastery was from this family. Preveli always fought for the freedom of Greece and was destroyed 6 times: 5 times by the Ottomans, the last by the Nazis. The monastery has a descent into a convenient bay, where ships moored, which took wounded soldiers and brought up weapons.

The occupiers executed the patriots and destroyed the monastery. After the last desecration, Preveli was not fully restored: the lower part, consecrated in honor of John the Baptist, was badly damaged. The upper part, consecrated in honor of John the Theologian, was less destroyed; now 3 monks live in it.

In Preveli you can see:

bridge built in the 19th century
ruins of Kato Preveli
cells, refectory Piso Preveli
temple and chapel
museum of church utensils and icons
small zoo
Preveli Bay
monument to the fighter for the liberation of Greece from the Ottomans Tsouderos (abbot of the monastery)
monument to monks who fought the Nazis

A tour of the monastery will take a little over an hour. In Preveli you can have a drink to the miraculous cross Ephraim of Prevelius. This saint cures eye diseases.

Palm Beach Preveli

To get to Preveli beach you will have to drive 32 km from the town of Rethymno. You should leave the E75 following the Spili sign to the south in the Rethymno area. Then continue driving to the village of Koksare, where you need to turn right at the Preveli sign. The parking lot at Kato Preveli is paid. It is recommended to leave the car here and go down the stone stairs. You will have to go down 1 km.

The beach is called Palm Beach because its territory is covered with date palms that grew without human intervention. The place is picturesque, but at the same time it is a protected area: the Megalopotamos river with drinking water flows into the bay. Because of this, the Libyan Sea here is clean, fresher, but also cold. There is no usual tourist service here. The only entertainment is catamaran rental.

Fortezza Fortress

Fortezza is located in the town of Rethymnon at the address: Leof. Emmanouil Kefalogianni, 27. This is a monument to defensive structures of the Byzantine era. Construction of the fortress began in 1540, after merchants began to settle in the bay, which was convenient for ships to moor. The Venetians built a fortress to protect them from pirates. Subsequently, it was used by the Ottomans to protect the city from the sea.

Today you can see the preserved:

Arsenal building with bas-reliefs
Ibrahim Mosque, which the Turks built instead of the Church of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Catherine, built on the remains of a water reservoir
Temple of Theodore Trikhin, built instead of a water storage

Thematic exhibitions are held in the arsenal building.

Knossos palace

This attraction is definitely visited by tourists, fortunately the palace is located nearby: less than 5 km from Heraklion. And getting here by car is easy. You can park your car for free near the entrance. Scientists have been able to establish that the Minoans rebuilt the first palace (destroyed by an earthquake) around 2000 BC. It was restored: the architects used all the technical innovations.

But in the 16th century BC. and this palace was destroyed by the elements, this time an earthquake. And the palace was forgotten for many years. Only at the end of the 19th century did Kalokerinos carry out small works, and the antiquities he discovered immediately became the center of attention of world archeology. At the beginning of the 20th century, Arthur Evans purchased the land for large-scale excavations.

Today, tourists are offered a cleared and reconstructed area measuring 130x180 m for inspection. There are more than 1000 rooms and intricate passages. By the way, on the ruins there is a labros sign, that is, a labyrinth. Therefore, historians concluded that it was here that the legendary labyrinth of the Minotaur was located.

The throne room for a simultaneous audience of 1.5 dozen people with a porphyry bowl is perfectly preserved. On the walls there are frescoes depicting scenes from the life of the Minoans in 1700 BC. The columns have been restored. All artifacts are laconic and elegant at the same time. Visitors are encouraged to explore the Palace of Knossos on a guided tour or take an audio guide.

Matala Beach

The picturesque place is located 70 km from Heraklion. You should follow the E75 towards the town of Gazi, and here turn south towards Timbaki. In the village of Mires, follow the sign to Matala Beach. The road goes up into the mountains and then down into the valleys. She herself is very picturesque. The beach is worth a visit because of the amazing sunsets: the sun falls directly into the Libyan Sea here. And the coastal cliffs are dotted with ancient caves.

Hippies lived in these man-made grottoes in the mid-20th century: representatives of the subculture came here from all over the world. But local residents Cyprus, led by Bishop Gortinis, recognized the hippies. And the beach retained its second name. Today you can explore the caves, but living in them is prohibited. There is a small temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a cave into which Brutus entered.

In June, the beach becomes the site of the Matala Beach Festival: the festival lasts several days. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance. Matala is the owner Blue Flag. Here developed infrastructure, in the village you can eat tasty and inexpensive food. National and European dishes are prepared.

Archaeological Museum of Agios Nikolaos

The town of Agios Nikolaos is easily accessible from Heraklion if you follow the E75 to the east. This is approximately 63 km. The Archaeological Museum is located near the embankment on Paleolog Street, building 74. The exhibition is quite new: previously, all the artifacts found were sent to the capital museum in the city of Heraklion. But soon there was not enough space in the latter’s storerooms, so a branch was opened in Agios Nikolaos.

Here you can see:

Minoan seals
ancient human skull
collection of pithos
goddess Myrtos
objects from the sunken city of Olus
artifacts from the burial of Agia Photius

The exhibits are in excellent condition. They describe the period from the Neolithic to the Roman Empire.

Lake Vulizmeni

The town of Agios Nikolaos is easily accessible from Heraklion if you take the E75 to the east. This is approximately 63 km. Lake Vulismeni (Vulismeni) is located right in the city center. The reservoir is full fresh water, has the shape of a saucer with a diameter of less than 140 m. And it has no bottom (according to the assurances of local residents).

True, this opinion was consistently refuted, first in 1853 by Admiral Spratt in 1853, then by Jacques Cousteau in the 80s of the twentieth century. It turned out that 64 m to the bottom. Vulismeni is picturesque: the water in it is incredibly dark, almost black, in color; from the west it is surrounded by rocks, and from the east - cafes and restaurants with local cuisine. The lake is ideal for a memorable photo shoot.

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Cave of Zeus

From the E75 highway near Heraklion, turn southeast following the sign for Psychro. Beyond the village of Psychro, a winding dirt road leads west, ending in a parking lot. You should leave your car here and walk up the mountain. The path is quite steep, but there are benches in the shade for tired tourists to rest. Those who are completely tired can be taken to the cave by donkeys.

The cave in which, according to ancient legends, Zeus was born, is located in the Dikti Mountains. It was discovered in 1886 by Joseph Hadzidakis. The artifacts discovered in the cave are in the Heraklion Museum. Today, the Cave of Zeus attracts tourists not only with the legend associated with it, but also with its amazing beauty. Visitors are surrounded by stalagtites and stalagmites, which grow together to form stalagnates.

You can move around inside the grotto along metal stairs with railings. It is worth taking care of comfortable shoes: the steps are slippery in places. The walls are illuminated with colored lamps: it’s all very romantic. At the exit of the cave there is Observation deck, offering fantastic views of the Lasithi plateau.

Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

The exhibition is located in the center of Heraklion at the address: Xanthoudidou Str., 1. This perfect place for those tired of beach holiday guests of Crete and for lovers of cultural tourism. The initiator of the creation of the exhibition was Joseph Hadzidakis. It was thanks to his efforts that the exposition received its own building. And not just anywhere, but on the ruins of a temple that was destroyed during an earthquake. Visitors can see part of the unique masonry in the museum courtyard.

The permanent exhibition occupies as many as 20 rooms. Displayed here are artifacts discovered on Crete, spanning the period from the first settlements to Roman Greece. The jewelry and ceramics department especially attracts visitors. And the pride of the museum administration is the Phaistos Disc, on both sides of which a message to descendants is printed.

Vai Beach

This place is loved by beach lovers. And getting here, even with a rented car, is not easy. From Heraklion you should move east along the E75 to the town of Agios Nikolaos. Here good part E75 ends: the road becomes narrow and winding. You need to drive along it to Sitia, and then 29 km along a dirt road to the beach. There is organized parking here, and a little further there is spontaneous but free parking. From Heraklion to your destination you will have to travel about 150 km, sometimes along mountain serpentines.

And the beach is amazing: it’s not for nothing that it was awarded the Blue Flag. The purest white sand is surrounded by a palm grove. The entry into the water is gentle, but you should enter carefully, because the sand alternates with slippery stones. The water in the Libyan Sea is warm, it’s pleasant to swim.

The infrastructure on the beach is decent: you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas, there are wooden decks along the sand, there are free changing cabins and showers. Too many vacationers are upsetting: you should come here early. But pitching tents and stopping overnight is prohibited: Vai is a protected area.

Sunken City of Olus

Get to unique object can be reached from Heraklion. First you need to drive east on E75 to the town of Agios Nikolaos, then take highway 90 and drive north to Pissidos; then you should move to Ölanda. In the very center of the town, near the square in the Mirabello Bay of the warm Cretan Sea, there is a sunken city.

It was once a thriving city-state. He traded with neighbors, minted his own coins, and fought with enemies. Scientists cannot definitively answer why Olus sank. The remains of the buildings were discovered in 1960 by Anastasios Orlandos. Today, in calm weather, tourists can see the remains of underwater buildings, and even walk through some of them. And diving enthusiasts will inspect all the buildings during a dive, and perhaps find something.

Ancient city of Gortyn

Get to the unique complex under open air The most convenient location is from Heraklion. From the E75 national highway, turn south at the sign for Mires, then continue to the town of Agii Deka. Immediately behind it is the ancient Gortyna. It was once a wealthy city-state that minted its own coins. Since the Christianization of Greece, Gortyna has been the capital of Crete for 1000 years. The city was destroyed by an earthquake.

Today Gortyna is located on both sides of the highway, its diameter is about 10 km. Tourists can see the perfectly preserved:

odeon
Gortyn's code of laws engraved on stone slabs
Basilica of St. Titus
ruins of the residence of the first bishop of Crete

Not far from the Cathedral of St. Titus, the walls of the city's ruler, the praetor, have been preserved.

The center is located in the capital of Crete - Heraklion, at the address: Sofokli Venizelou Ave, 27. The exhibition opened recently: in 1953. Today it contains important artifacts discovered on the island. Tourists are invited to view a collection of objects from the first settlements on the island to the Second World War. All exhibitions are arranged in chronological order, and there are interactive layouts.

Kules Fortress

Fortress address: 71202, Heraklion. Koules is one of the symbols of Heraklion. The Byzantines began to build it (then it was called Handax), the Venetians continued (renaming it Rocca a Mare), and the Ottomans completed the construction (calling it Kules, that is, a water tower). This large-scale fortification structure has internal walls 3 m thick and external walls 9 m thick. permanent exhibition small: cannonballs, cannons, edged weapons. But the fortress hosts thematic exhibitions, and open area Concerts are held throughout the year.

Balos Bay

A unique place is located 50 km from Chania. You should drive in the direction of the town of Kissamos, and then follow the sign towards the village of Kaliviani. 2 km after leaving the village a dirt road begins. It is narrow, unkempt, 8 km long. You should drive along it at a speed of 12-15 km/h. The road ends at a small parking lot. Here you should leave the car and go down the path to the bay.

Balos is protected from winds and waves by Cape Tigani and desert island Imeri-Gramvousa. The sea here is calm, clear, and pleasant to swim. And this place also has an amazing color of water: this is explained by the fact that 3 seas are connected in the bay: the Aegean, Libyan and Ionian. They have different salinities and temperatures, which is why Balos has such a variety of colors!

And the main surprise of the bay is Balos Lagoon. It is formed by two spits that connect Cape Tigani and the Gramvous Peninsula. In this place a shallow pool with always warm and calm water was formed. Children and adults who don't like waves readily swim here.

Bay - national reserve, so here is the minimum infrastructure:

cafe in the parking lot 2 km from the beach
rental of umbrellas and sunbeds (during the season there are not enough for everyone)

But Balos offers not only passive recreation by the water. Here you can take short excursions:

on Imeri-Gramvousa there is an ancient fortress and defensive structures from the time of the struggle for independence (18-19 centuries)
on Cape Tigani there is a chapel of St. Nicholas
A wonderful panorama of the bay opens from the top observation deck

Elafonisi Beach

Elafonisi received the Blue Flag. This is an attractive beach for tourists, remote from the central resorts of the island. It is located 75 km from the city of Chania, you need to go through Kissamos. The highway ends with a spontaneous parking lot. It is recommended to arrive early to secure a spot here. There is a gentle slope leading to the beach. The road is mountainous, there is a lot on it sharp turns, ascents and descents, so it is recommended to accurately calculate the travel time: all beach services (including the rescue service) stop working at 6 pm.

Elafonisi is separated from Crete by an underwater isthmus 100 m long, which is easy to ford. And the sand on the beach is amazing - pink. This color is given to it by particles of corals and shells living nearby. By the way, it is forbidden to take sand with you as a souvenir. The Minoans came up with an explanation for the red sand. 800 Orthodox Christians took refuge here during Ottoman rule. But the Turks captured them and massacred them. And the sand became saturated with the blood of innocents and became red forever.

The sea on Elafonisi is warm and clean, and in some places the depth barely reaches half a meter. Swimming here is pleasant and not scary. And the infrastructure is excellent: there are showers, toilets, changing cabins, a small cafe and rental of beach and sports equipment. Elafonisi is a protected area. Rare and Red Book species of plants and animals live here, so beach visitors are required to follow the rules. And for lovers of cultural tourism there will also be interesting places.

In the Topoli Gorge, along which the road to Elafonisi runs, is the cave of Hagia Sophia. Here an icon was miraculously found, preserved during the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans. The icon is located in a chapel built in a grotto. Chrysoskalitissa is a rock monastery founded on the site ancient temple in the 17th century. It is 5 km from the beach. There is a staircase with 90 steps leading into it. An amazing panorama of the Libyan Sea opens from the monastery site.

Maritime Museum

The complex is located in the city of Chania at the address: Halidon Str., 21. It is visible from all points of the city. And the exhibitions will be interesting for men of any age. The permanent exhibition tells guests not only about the history of shipbuilding on the island, but also about the cultural traditions of Crete. Visitors first learn about the history of Crete's annexation by Greece in 1913.

And then guests are invited to examine finds recovered from sunken ships, household items of sailors, and ship models. The center has interactive stands. And the branch of the museum, located on the docks of Venice Bay, presents life-size ancient ships. The vessels were recreated based on surviving engravings and drawings. All equipment works: you can twist and touch it.

The island of Crete is one of the most interesting places for traveling by car. There are so many sights and interesting monuments here that even a week is not enough to explore them. Of course, like everywhere else on the island, there are organized excursions, but they will go strictly along a pre-planned route and in a very large group, and not all tourists like this. After all, there are places where you still want to visit and feel inspired by them.

Cretan roads

The roads on the island are excellent, as are the transport links. If you really want to, you can get to almost any point in Crete by car. The traffic intensity on the island is very low.

The mountainous terrain is represented by dizzying serpentines, from which the view is truly amazing to the local nature. So the trip itself to this or that natural or cultural monument will become an unforgettable adventure.

Even a beginner can cope with mountain roads and driving a car along them. After all, the locals the trails are very well equipped. All you have to do is be extremely careful while driving and the journey will become nothing but pleasure.

How is traffic organized on the island?

Despite the fact that the traffic in Crete is not very dense, during the holiday season in major cities parking your car on the island will be a real challenge. It won’t be possible to abandon the car where you want, because fines for wrong parking they are very impressive here, and they are written out quite often.

The same rules apply on the island traffic, as everywhere. However, local residents are in no hurry to comply with them. In particular, this concerns the speed limit - almost no one follows it, everyone drives as they want. Signs are not held in high esteem; this is precisely what the road signs with bullet holes everywhere testify to.

It is also worth remembering that gas stations on the island do not operate 24 hours a day. Some of them close as early as 19.00, and some are open until 22.00. This must be taken into account when traveling so as not to stay on the highway overnight.

Every driver must be prepared for sudden maneuvers other road users on the road. After all, local residents almost always drive without turning on turn signals or headlights during the daytime.

Many locals consider it quite normal drunk driving. And although the fines for this on the island are far from small, it is extremely difficult to wean them from a bad habit. A belt or seat for a child is not considered necessary at all.

When you arrive at the parking lot, try not to park your car under trees. Yes, here she will be protected from the scorching rays of the sun, but there is a high probability that the ubiquitous goats, of which there are many in this area, will climb onto her hood in order to reach young twigs and leaves on the trees.

Besides, Do not leave valuables in the car and money - they will be stolen. After all, local thieves can easily pick any lock. And you shouldn’t forget about traffic jams, however, they are very specific - not cars on the highway, but goats. They have long become the masters of local cities.

What to see on the island?

But renting a car and planning an excursion route are not nearly as important as the places to visit themselves. After all, Crete has many places that tourists will like.

Monasteries

There are truly a huge number of monasteries in Crete that are a must-see for every tourist. Thanks to the island's strategic location, it constantly fought for independence. And with each foreign invasion the monastery turned into fortress that defended the island. That's the way people are here.

The monasteries of the island simply fascinate tourists. It is in them that one can feel the true national flavor, combining calm and tranquility. All residents of Crete are extremely religious people, and therefore they treat Orthodox shrines with extreme reverence. Only here you can hear a lot of stories and legends about miraculous icons, crying faces and shrines that appeared out of nowhere. You should definitely see these monasteries:

Toplu Monastery;
Arkadi Monastery;
Preveli Monastery;
Catholic monastery.

Monasteries of Crete

Palaces and fortresses of the island

These attractions can rightfully be call them the most unusual and amazing all over Crete. All the ancient palaces of the island are secret witnesses of the mysterious and great Minoan civilization, which existed since the 3rd century. BC e. 2 in. BC e. If you believe the legends, then this was the same ancient Atlantis.

Do you think this is just a legend? But this hypothesis is also supported by the amazing technical devices of Minoan buildings. After all, many of them are still in working order. And themselves construction technologies of that time, even today they look truly fantastic, and this despite modern progress in construction. They were able to survive even after an earthquake completely destroyed the entire population of the island of Santorini.

Each of the palaces discovered on the island has no analogues and is considered a world-class attraction. That is why most tourists come only to see them in person. The most popular are:

Waterfalls

In general, the island is considered a fairly dry place. But in the center of the island there are amazing waterfalls that are truly interesting natural monuments. They can be both large and small, warm or cold, but no matter what, they all make a lasting impression on tourists:

Where else to go on the island

Each city of Crete combines many stories and eras. That is why each of them is unlike other cities in the world. Winding streets and cobbled courtyards, balconies surrounded by flowers and unique buildings - all this will not leave any tourist indifferent.

A must visit Chania city, which is rightfully considered the most beautiful city peace. Here you can see not only amazing beautiful architecture, but also unusually beautiful streets, luxurious carriages, an azure harbor in which snow-white yachts stand in formation. It’s simply impossible not to fall in love with this city.

Capital of Crete Heraklion - a real gem islands. Here are located not only the most beautiful historical monuments, but also many modern entertainment venues, in which there is a place for both adults and children. Many parks and attractions will not leave the child indifferent. Does your child not only love to have fun, but also actively relax, and you are wondering where to take him? Then you should definitely visit Entertainment Center, which features a climbing wall and plenty of roller skating paths.

Visiting cities and sights is, of course, great, but you also need to relax. In this case, you should take your child, your significant other and go to the beach. But don’t forget to buy a map before this so you don’t get lost in the narrow streets of the cities and definitely find the way to the sandy shores.

Local beaches can easily be called a true work of art by Mother Nature herself. After all, there are pink, red beaches and even white dunes. Visiting them just to see them is already unforgettable. But such an excursion is a good reason to swim in the sea waves.

Most of the coast of Crete is salty. This is very good for those who are just starting to learn to swim, for example, the child will feel just great in the waves. But there is also fresh beach - Kournas. It amazes tourists with its originality and unusual transitions of nature from sand and stones on one side to lush green vegetation on the other.

So if you want to get good vacation, then buy a map of Crete and create your own individual travel route. You can go to cities and admire their beauty, or you can take your child and go conquer the mountains. Good route- a trip to the castles of the island.