{"id":16477,"date":"2024-10-09T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T09:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetjoy.com\/?post_type=city&p=16477"},"modified":"2026-05-15T11:17:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T11:17:30","slug":"16477","status":"publish","type":"city","link":"https:\/\/thetjoy.com\/de\/city\/16477\/","title":{"rendered":"Crete"},"content":{"rendered":"

The largest Greek island, located south of Greek between Greek and Turkey in the north and Libya in the south, with its capital and largest city Heraklion<\/strong><\/a> located on its northern coast. Crete is one of the most popular tourists’ destinations in Greek, with most of the tourists spending at least one week in one of its many beautiful beach resorts, while exploring the numerous great attractions around the island.<\/p>\n

Crete was the center of the Minoans civilization, Europe’s first advanced civilization, from 2700 to 1420 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization, to be followed by Rome, Byzantine, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire, until it became part of modern Greece in 1913.
\nEach of the empires and countries that ruled Crete have left its mark in the Island.<\/p>\n

Explore and enjoy the Knossos Palace<\/strong><\/a> and its famous labyrinth near Heraklion<\/strong><\/a>, der Diktaion Cave<\/strong><\/a> in the <\/strong>Lasithi Plateau<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0the birthplace of the Greek Mythology god Zeus, the Fortezza Castle of Rethymno<\/strong><\/a> the beautiful venetian old town and harbor, the Ottoman mosques of Chania<\/strong><\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n

Crete is mostly mountainous, with a high mountain range crossing from west to east, and numerous canyons and rivers flowing from north to south, among them the highly popular for hiking Samaria<\/strong><\/a> und Imbros<\/strong><\/a> Gorges.
\nIn the mountains you will enjoy in addition to the overwhelming landscapes, picturesque traditional villages with whitewashed houses and winding alleys such as the weaver’s village of Anogia<\/strong><\/a> and the pottery village of Margarites<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Between the mountains and the coast enjoy lakes such as the beautiful Kournas<\/strong><\/a> lake, beautiful valleys, and the rural plains of the Island such as Lasithi<\/strong> Plateau<\/strong><\/a>, where olive, apples and almonds groves are growing.<\/p>\n

Crete northern coast is home to the five major harbor towns of the island including the highly popular Chania<\/strong><\/a> in the west with its beautiful Venetian old town and harbor, charming Rethymno<\/strong><\/a>, Heraklion<\/strong><\/a> the capital. In the east, enjoy the highly popular resort town of Hersonissos<\/strong><\/a> and the charming Agios Nikolaos<\/strong><\/a> with its beautiful beaches and resorts.<\/p>\n