Crete's Top 10 Travel Destinations
Crete's (Greece) 10 Best Travel Destinations according to DK
10. Gournia
Gournia is the site of a Minoan palace complex on the island of Crete, Greece, excavated in the early 20th century by the American archaeologist, Harriet Boyd-Hawes. Gournia lies in the municipality of Ierapetra in the prefecture of Lasithi.
9. The Amari Valley & Mt Ida
Crete's Mount Ida is the island's highest summit, sacred to the Goddess Rhea, and wherein lies the legendary cave in which baby Zeus was concealed from his father Cronus. It is one of a number of caves believed to have been the birthplace or hiding place of Zeus. On the flank of this mountain is the Amari Valley, the site of expansion by the ancient settlement at Phaistos.
8. Samaria Gorge
A 14km gorge that descends 1250 meters to sea level through some of Europe's most spectacular natural scenery. The walk up the gorge from south to north is pleasant for the main part but the last 3km, up the Xyloskala is extremely tiring. The most famous part of the gorge is the stretch known as the Gates, where the sides of the gorge close in to a width of only four meters and soar up to a height of almost 300 meters.
7. Gortys
Gortyn is a municipality and an archaeological site on the Mediterranean island of Crete, 45 km away from the modern capital Heraklion. The seat of the municipality is the village Agioi Deka. Gortyn, the Roman capital of Crete, was first inhabited around 3200 BC, and was a flourishing Minoan town between 1600-1100 BC.
6. Rethymno
Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of Rethymno regional unit on the island of Crete. It was built in antiquity, but was never a competitive Minoan centre. It was, however, strong enough to mint its own coins and maintain urban growth. One of these coins is today depicted as the crest of the town with two dolphins in a circle.
5. Phaistos
Phaistos currently refers to a Bronze Age archaeological site at modern Phaistos, a municipality in south central Crete. Ancient Phaistos was located about 5.6 km east of the Mediterranean Sea. The name, Phaistos, survives from ancient Greek references to a city in Crete of that name, shown to be, in fact, at or near the current ruins.
4. Chania
Chania is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north coast of the island, about 70 km west of Rethymno and 145 km (90 mi) west of Heraklion. Despite being heavily bombed during World War II, Chania's Old Town is considered the most beautiful urban district on Crete, especially the crumbling Venetian harbour.
3. Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a museum located in Heraklion on Crete. It is one of the greatest museums in Greece and the best in the world for Minoan art, as it contains the most notable and complete collection of artifacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete.
2. Heraklion
Heraklion is the major city and capital of the largest Greek island of Crete. Its Archaeological Museum holds the remains of the 3000-year old Minoan civilization, which grew around the nearby legendary palace of Knossos (of Minotaur fame), as well as Byzantine churches and a well-preserved Venetian wall and fortress from the 15th century.
1. Ancient Knossos
Knossos is the site of the most important and best known Minoan palace complex in Crete. It is located some 5 km south of Heraklion. According to tradition, Knossos was the seat of the legendary Cretan king Minos. The Palace is also connected with further legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, as well as the story of Daidalos and Ikaros. Excavation has revealed that the site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.) until Roman times.
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Corfu Island Greece (Tour & Travel guide) Kerkyra, Paxoi, Ereikousa, Sivota, Vidos
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THE TWO LISTS...
A long journey throughout the entire island of Corfu including Pantokratoras Mountain, Paxoi islands, vidos island, Erikousa island and Syvota in Mainland Greece.
LIST 1: CLASSICAL MUSIC MASTERPIECES
LIST 2: JOURNEY GUIDE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF CORFU, PAXOI ISLANDS, ERIKOUSA, VIDOS AND TRIP TO SIVOTA
LIST 1:
1) Hungarian Rhapsody (Strauss)
2) Red & Blue Bands play Mozart during the Easter
3) Messiah (Handel)
4) Blue Danube (Strauss)
5) Habanera (Bizet)
6) Les Toreadors (Bizet)
7) C Major Prelude (Bach)
8) Waltz of the Flowers (Tchaikovsky)
9) Eine Kleine Nachtmusic (Mozart)
10) Midsummer Nights Dream (Mendelssohn)
MANY THANKS TO YOUTUBE FOR PROVIDING US WITH THE FREE LIBRARY
LIST 2:
[A] CORFU TOWN, PAXOI ISLANDS, PALAIOKASTRITSA & ACHILLION PALACE (In Gastouri):
1) Igoumenitsa, 2) First Glimpses of Sissi's Palace, 3) ST. Michael & George Palace (Asian Art Exhibits), 4) Corfu Town, 5) Old Castle, 6) Canoni Area, 7) Vlachernon Chappel & Pontikonisi Island, 8) Busceto, 9) Vidos Islet, 10) departure for Paxos Island, 11) Gaios (The Capital), 12) Kourteika Village, 13) Loggos Village Resort, 14) Blue Caves, 15) Antipaxos Island, 16) Corfu (Return more monuments & buildings), 17) Easter Time in Corfu (Red & Blue Bands), 18) Churches & Ecclesiastical Art of the Island* (See notes at the end of this list), 19) Palaiokastritsa, 20) Achillion Palace & Gardens in Gastouri.
[B] SOUTHWEST CORFU:
1) Ermones, 2) Myrtiotissa Beach, 3) Glyfada Sandy Beach 4) Pelekas Village, 5) Kaiser's Throne-Observatory & Sunset, 6) Varipatades Village, 7) Kouramades Village, 8) Kastellanoi Mesis, 9) Agios Gordios, 10) Agios Matheos, 11) Byzantine Fortress of Gardikios, 12) Lake Korission, 13) Chalikounas Beach, 14) St. George of Korission (or South), 15) Back to Corfu town and Solomos museum.
[C] SOUTHEAST CORFU:
1)Agioi Deka Village, 2) Mpenitses, 3) Agios Ioannis Peristeron, 4) Moraitika, 5) Mesoggi, 6) Psaras Village, 7) Lefkimmi Town (Second Largest Port), 8) Kavos Sandy Village (Mainly for Youngsters ages18 to late 20's) 9) Day Trip to Sivota (Mainland) and the Blue Lagoon.
[D] VILLAGES NEAR THE CAPITAL:
1) Agios Ioannis (Aqualand), 2) Potamos Village.
[E] NORTHEAST CORFU AND MOUNT PANTOKRATORAS:
1) Gouvia, 2) Kommenos Bay, 3) Dassia, 4)Kato Korakiana + Museum, 5) Ano Korakiana, 6) Ipsos, 7) Kato Agios Markos, 8) Spartilas Village (Mount Pantokratoras), 9) Sgourades (Mount Pantokratoras), 10) Mount Pantokratoras (The Peak), 11)Old Perithia, 12) Barbati or Mparmpati (Back to the sea road), 13) Nisaki, 14) Gimari, 15) Kalami, 16) Agios Stefanos, 17) Kassiopi, 18) Loutses, 19) Apraos (Perfect for couples with small children).
[F] CENTRAL NORTH & NORTH WEST CORFU:
1) Acharavi, 2) Roda, 3) Astrakeri, 4) Karousades, 5) Sidari (Arrival), 6) Day Trip to Erikousa (Diapondian Islands), 7) Sidari (Return), 8) Arillas Magouladon, 9) Afionas & St. George Pagon or North, 10) Peroulades (Driving back to Sidari), 11) CANAL D'AMOUR!
Finally we return to our port of call i.e. Corfu Town (Visit Mon Repos Palace) and greet the island Farewell....with a short film from the Blue Caves of Paxos island.
Churches & Ecclesiastical Art of the Island*
a) Saint Spyridon
b) Santa Theodora
c) Paintings from Kato Korakiana Museum (including El Greco Original)
d) Pantokratoras Temple
e) Santa Efimia monastery
f) Church of Iason and Sosipatros
g) Saint Nikolaos Geronton (elderly) church
h) Panagia Kremasti church & wishing well
i) Cassiopitra Monastery
j) Byzantine Museum inside Antivouniotissa church
k) Platytera Monastery
l) Metropolis Offices (i.e. Diocese)
m) Bands in streets & Epitaphian Processions
n) Breaking of earthen vessels filled with water during Easter thrown from balconies in the Pentofanaro Square symbolizing the Resurrection...
MORE IMPORTANT FACTS AND INFORMATION REGARDING CORFU:
The island of Corfu can be reached either by airplane or via the port of Igoumenitsa in Mainland Greece. (Approx. 2 hours by ship). Return ticket of one person including one car costs: € 70 (2015 prices)
Corfu boasts 3 Palaces: 1) Mon Repos Palace , 2) Saint Michael & George Palace (Functions as an Asian Art museum and a Painting Gallery), 3) Sissi's Palace or Achillion.
Should you have any questions you may contact me personally. Thank you.