• Heraklion

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  • The capital of the island of Crete, and the gateway to the highly popular Island especially for European tourists. The city is close to the ruins of the magnificent, must see, Palace of Knossos, the largest center of the Minoan, Europe’s oldest civilization, which occupied Crete in 2700 BC through to 1450 BC.
    The current city was founded in 824 by the Arabs, then in the 13th century it was bought by the Republic of Venice who have built in the city enormous fortifications including 7 bastions, the impressive Koules Fortress, the ramparts and the arsenal dominating the harbor.
    Walk the narrow streets of the vibrant old city, admiring the architecture, the churches, and the small squares and fountains. Window-shop the numerous small shops selling everything, especially in the 1866 Street and in the Central Market, and walk along the waterfront promenade with its great scenery, restaurants, and cafes.
    Visit the 16th century Koules Fortress and the Venetian Arsenals shipyards, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum with its Palace of Knossos collection, and the Cathedral of St. Minas with its renowned religious iconography and beautiful frescoes.
    Near the city, spend a sunny day at the sandy Ammoudara Beach, its tavernas and shops, and exploit the perfect conditions for kiteboarding and windsurfing. Visit the beautiful Palace of Knossos, and its partially restored architecture and frescoes, 5 km southeast of Heraklion. With your children, visit the big and modern CRET Aquarium Thalassocosmos in Gournes, 13 km east of Heraklion, with its 2,500 Mediterranean marine species in 32 glass water tanks.

    Spend 1-2 days in Heraklion and consider day trips to the famous and beautiful beach of Matala 65 km southwest of Heraklion, take a ferry for a tour at beautiful Santorini, or travel west to the Psiloritis mountain area, where you will enjoy the landscapes and the weaver’s village of Anogia.

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