Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, and
the most southerly. It is around 260km long and 56km wide at its
widest point, 12km wide at its narrowest. It is the 5th largest
island in the Mediterranean. It sits at the crossroads to three
continents; Europe, Africa, & Asia.
It boasts the southernmost point of Europe. It averages around 300
days of sunshine per year, which together with its enviable
infrastructure, beautiful scenery, rugged mountains & picturesque
beaches make it an ideal location to build a home.
The island has 2 international airports, 4 ports, & 11 hospitals.
The "National Highway" runs the entire length of the island, making
access to the main towns easy. There are around 1046km of coastline,
with golden sandy beaches on the north coast, most of which are warm
& shallow, making them ideal for families.
The south coast is more dramatic, with sheer cliffs & beaches
with black volcanic sand. It is on the south coast that the Samaria
gorge, the longest gorge in Europe, ends. The island has a rich &
varied history, going back 9000 years. During the Minoan period,
around 3000-1400bc, Crete was at the height of its power. After their
fall, thought to be due to the massive volcanic eruption on Santorini
& the following tsunami, the island underwent Dorian, Roman,
Byzantine, Venetian, & Turkish rule.
In 1897, Greek forces arrived & helped to liberate the island
from the Turks. Crete unified with Greece in 1913. Crete is an island
full of lovely small villages as well as a few major towns. Below is
a Slide Show of Crete, its landscape and its people.
