A few days around Crete

I had the chance to discover this enchanting Greek island called Crete, and as I really enjoyed my personal experience, I think the story of my journey might help those who would like to travel to this Mediterranean jewel.

I first landed in Athens, and a few days later, we decided to go and visit Crete. So we took a ferry from Pireas to Chania, Crete. The view when we were going there was amazing blend of the sea and the sunrise setting ablaze on the gentle waves of the Venetian port of Chania. We walked around in the beautiful city, certainly the most charming I have seen in the island, breathing the specific smell of Ottoman and Venetian origins that make Crete so unique. If the romantic view on the harbour and lighthouse is not enough for you, you should make a delight of the local cuisine in a shadowed terrace. Fish is always excellent, and I advise you to taste kalamari (deep fried squid) and dolmathes (grape leaves roll up with rice).

Then we took a bus to the Samaria Gorge and found a shelter in the core of the white mountains to spend the night in. In the very morning, we went for a complete day of walk, going down in the wild gorge, strolling in amazing landscapes all day long. At the end, an unexpected gift and reward at Chora Sfakion: a dark-sanded beach, with a beautiful sunset slowly diving in the ocean. Refresh yourself and then take a cute and tiny boat to Agia Galini. Even after the spectacle of the coast unwinding , the sight on this traditional village clinging to the cliff is enchanting. Take a rest in one of the hotel Crete, enjoying the soft sound of the waves.

Crete being the birthplace of our European civilization, we decided to add some Minoan culture to our Cretan trip and took the direction of Phaistos. The site is still an enigma, so try to resolve the mystery of the Phaistos’ Disk! Gortyn was next, as these ruins are supposed to have witnessed the legend of Zeus, under the shape of a bull, seizing Europe, giving her name to our old and beloved continent. Knossos was our last Minoan destination, and here again the myth catches up the reality, the Palace of Knossos being Daedelus’ Labyrinth, ordered by the King Minos and homing the terrible Minotaur. You walk around like Theseus, searching Ariadne’s thread in the ruins, frightening at the idea of meeting face to face with the monster “part man and part bull”.

Ending up in Heraklion, we stroll around the port, visiting the Agios Minas Cathedral, a treasure of the Orthodox Art and increasing our knowledge at the Archaeological Museum, which gives good clues on the history of the island and on the variety of the origins giving birth to the particular Cretan spirit. So book your Crete holidays right now, and choose any of the Crete hotel deals that will satisfy any of your wishes!