Because of its size and its distance from mainland Greece, Crete has a very distinctive culture. The inhabitants speak a dialect of Greek, and have customs unique to themselves. They are renowned for their toughness, strong family ties, and the popular stereotype of a Greek wedding celebrated with gunfire is still a real occurence in Crete. Crete has a fabulous variety of beaches, lively cities, fascinating museums, tranquil villages, forests, snow-clad mountains, and a fascinating archaeological heritage. The famous site of Knossos should not be missed on a charter to this island.

History

The island of Crete is the scene of many of the Greek myths. Here, the Minotaur was defeated by Theseus, Daedalus and Icarus lived here, and Crete was the place where Zeus allegedly grew up. The first of the great Greek civilizations - the Minoan period - started on Crete around the 3rd Millenium BC, and lasted until the 15th century, wiped out by a series of earthquakes and other natural disasters. The Minoans laid the keel of the great sea-faring tradition of the Greeks, and Minoan artefacts are found all over the Mediterranean - there are even theories that their voyages took them as far as the Bahamas.

In 67BC the Romans annexed Crete as a province, and ruled for over 400 years, before it then became part of the Byzantine empire. Through the dark ages, Arabs and then Turks occupied the island. In 1913 Greece liberated the island and its soldiers fought in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. The Germans occupied the Islands during the Second World War

What to See

Those interested in archaeology should not mis Knossos, the famous centre of the Minoan civilisation. The mythological Minotaur was supposedly kept in the labyrinth. Chania has a respected archaeological museum, and the market and mosque date from the times of Turkish rule. The Romans chose Gortuna as their capital, and their influence can still be seen.

Lasithi is a stereotypical Greek village but nevertheless very beautiful and well worth a visit. Elounda is a well known summer resort. Ag Nikolaos is considered the most beautiful town of the island. Whether you rent a vehicle or take the bus, you should definitely try to visit these mountain villages. Iraklio is the busy capital of the island which though not very pretty is worth a side-trip from the nearby Knossos palace. The second largest town, Rethymnon is prettier with its Venetian and Turkish architecture, wooden balconies and Venetian Castle known as La Fortezza.

What to Do

Shore trips in Crete require a car or bike to get around. It is also an excellent place for a day trek - particularly popular is the incredingle Samuri Ravine, which is the deepest in Europe. Of course, on a charter you will want to profit from the excellent beaches which abound around the picturesque coast. Perhaps the most famous beach on Crete is Elafoniso which has a good atmosphere for families. Matala is a former hippie resort and its beach with many caves is not recommended for families. Xerokambos and Frangokastello are quiet beaches. The waters are warm, clear and safe, but you should watch out for sea urchins and jelly fish.

Nightlife

There is plenty of nightlife in all of the towns and even small villages.

Food

The disctinctive culture of Crete has created many local dishes such as Stifado Salingariko - snail stew, and Chirino Kritiko - pork chops. The most abundant of the many local cheeses is Myzithres.There are hundres of local tavernas around the island to sample local cuisine, but equally there are many international restaurants in the resorts and larger towns.

Shopping

There are plenty of opportunities to shop for local crafts and items all around the island